Stage04 Mur Cycle Path Judenburg - Leoben

Accessible by public transport

Train (within 15 minutes walking distance from starting point)
Public bus (within 15 minutes walking distance from starting point)

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty easy

Route 55,0 km

Time 4:00 h

Uphill 68 hm

Downhill 248 hm

Highest point 737 m

This stage takes us from Judenburg in Zirbenland via Knittelfeld to Leoben, the second largest city in Steiermark. The Red Bull Ring with its numerous attractions, cider taverns, the Aqualux Therme Fohnsdorf spa, a lovingly designed railway museum and numerous other sights accompany us along the way.

Note: Due to a rockfall, the Mur Cycle Path is currently closed in the area of Winkelbauernweg (between Mayer Recycling and Schladnitz).

In this historic industrial region, which today boasts high-tech companies and attractions such as the Red Bull Ring, you can see the successes of architectural reconciliation with the past: well-kept old towns, vibrant pedestrian zones and interesting museums such as the Kunsthalle in Leoben or the Stift Göss monastery with the Gösser brewery await us. Yes, you read that correctly: among many other things, the famous Gösser beer is produced here, and has been since 1860. Did you know, by the way, that Gösser beer was also served at the signing of the Austrian State Treaty? But that's another story.

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

More information

There are several parking options available in Judenburg. Please note the short-stay parking zones.

If you feel like visiting a thermal spa, take a day off and cycle across the Mur to the AqualuxTherme in Fohnsdorf. But if you want to continue cycling, ride from the main square via Weyergasse and a left turn via Purbachgasse to Mühlweg along the Mur. A cycle and footpath takes you into the Murwald forest, where we finally leave the town of Judenburg behind. We stay close to ‘our Mur’, which has become our faithful friend and companion, and pass through a wonderful floodplain forest, which is particularly refreshing in summer, to the small village of Fisching with its beautifully situated campsite. And anyone who cycles so much and experiences so many impressions needs refreshment. Fisching and Weißkirchen are ideal places to rest and stretch your legs. After this well-deserved refreshment, we continue on the cycle path to Zeltweg, a beautiful small town that also invites you to take a break.

Never stray from the right path, unless you are on the Mur Cycle Path. In Möbersdorf, a few kilometres after Fisching, for example, there is another opportunity: here, we can also turn off towards Großlobming – i.e. continue straight ahead – and reach the Life+ Nature Project ‘Mur (er)leben’ (Experience the Mur) via this route. The aim is to protect and restore the natural river landscapes, which are truly unique here, with all their animals and plants.

But if we stay on the main route, we drive via Zeltweg to Knittelfeld. Many people have probably heard of the Red Bull Ring. If you are curious, turn left at Zeltweg and after a few minutes you will reach the Red Bull Ring and its numerous attractions for young and old. And if you just want to enjoy a coffee with a Formula 1 car as your neighbour, this is also the place to be. Afterwards, we return to the main route, which we follow to Knittelfeld with its railway museum.

From Knittelfeld, the Mur Cycle Path now takes us straight ahead via St. Lorenzen bei Knittelfeld to St. Stefan ob Leoben. Here we keep left at the church and cycle along the road over the Mur to reach St. Michael near the motorway above. And once again we realise how wonderful it is to see the landscape under our own steam rather than racing through it on the motorway. Time for ourselves and for the many gems that await us along the Mur Cycle Path. Once here, the Gasthof Eberhard with its excellent cuisine is certainly one of the insider tips on the Mur Cycle Path, although – to be honest – this ‘stop-off’ is no longer such a secret. We leave St. Michael by passing under the motorway and changing to the right bank of the Mur. The route continues leisurely through the forest, parallel to the motorway, with gentle ups and downs via Schladnitzdorf to Leoben, where the Göss brewery with its fascinating museum welcomes us in the Göss district.

After the huge brewery, the main road branches off to the left towards the centre. We cross the Mur once again on the cycle path that runs alongside the road and immediately turn right. On Mareckkai, we follow the Mur to the beautiful historic centre of Leoben. To do this, we cross the Waasenbrücke bridge and ride through the Schwammerlturm, Leoben's landmark, to the main square with its countless pubs and restaurants and the shopping centre, which is housed in a former Dominican monastery.

To the 5th stageof the Mur Cycle Path

To the completeoverview of the Mur Cycle Path

Emergency assistance number: 144

Tips when reporting an emergency – Answer these six WH questions: What happened? How many people are injured? Where did the accident happen (are there GPS coordinates)? Who is reporting the incident (callback number)? When did the accident happen? What is the weather like at the site of the incident?

The right bike: a touring bike or city bike. Racing bikes are not recommended. Breakdowns can occur ‒ and they rarely happen right outside one of the many service points. That’s why it never hurts to ensure you have a basic kit with you comprising key tools and accessories! It’s sensible to bring a replacement hose and/or repair kit, adjustable spanner, air pump, brake and gear cable and a screwdriver.

ÖBB www.oebb.at or Verbundlinie Steiermark www.busbahnbim.at

When leaving the station, keep left and cycle along Bahnhofstraße until you reach Gußstahlwerkstraße, where you turn diagonally left into Sensenwerkgasse after a few metres. Passing the Gasthof Hotel Murblick and crossing the Mur bridge, you will arrive directly at the Murradweg cycle path.

With the Verbundlinie BusBahnBim app, timetable information has never been easier to access: all bus, train and tram connections in Austria can be searched for by entering locations and/or addresses, stops or important points. The app is available as a free app for smartphones (Android, iOS) – on Google Play and in the App Store.

If you want to put your trust in a tour operator, simply book with Steiermark Touristik, the official travel agency of Steiermark Tourism:Tel. +43 316 4003450, www.steiermark-touristik.com

Further information

Steiermark Tourism, Tel. +43 316 4003, www.murradweg.com

TV Salzburger Lungau, Tel. +43 6477 8988, www.lungau.at

Pocket Card "Radwege in der Steiermark" Tel. +43 316 4003 www.steiermark.com

Folder "Murradweg - Vom Steirerkas zu Wein und Kernöl" Steiermark Tourismus Tel. +43 316 4003 www.steiermark.com

Mur-Radweg 1:50.000, ISBN 978-3-85000-037-6 Verlag Esterbauer - bikeline Tel. +43 2983 28982 www.esterbauer.com