8. Etappe Styrian Iron Trail - Vordernberg - St. Peter-Freienstein

Accessible by public transport

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

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty medium

Route 20,2 km

Time 6:30 h

Uphill 600 hm

Downhill 820 hm

Highest point 1058 m

Step by step, we leave the Eisenerzer Alps behind and immerse ourselves in a cultural and natural landscape steeped in mining history – including the urban atmosphere of Trofaiach! The Styrian Iron Trail was created with the support of the federal government, the state, and the European Union (LEADER).

The mining town of Vordernberg played an important role in ore processing and in the life of Archduke Johann, who became master wheelwright in Vordernberg in 1822. Among other things, he founded the mining and metallurgy school in Vordernberg, which is now the Montanuniversität Leoben. Radwerk IV is the only charcoal blast furnace in the world that has been preserved in its entirety – for more information, visit: www.radwerk-vordernberg.at. The town itself is nestled in a narrow valley floor, which we leave at the start of our day's stage to head into the Krumpen Valley, where there are also references to mining. After the last few days in the mountains, the town of Trofaiach offers a wonderful change of scenery along the Styrian Iron Trail. The town, with a population of 12,300, was also shaped by the extraction and sale of iron and experienced an economic boom at the beginning of the 19th century through the production of high-quality metal products. With the gently rolling landscape of the Trofaiach Basin, we leave the Eisenerz Alps and look back at the rugged mountain backdrop. Via the G'spitzte Wand and the pilgrimage church of Maria Freienstein (www.kirche-vordernbergertal.at), we come to two attractive locations before ending the day in St. Peter-Freienstein.

Best season

January

February

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December

More information

A9 from St. Michael, exit at Traboch and take the B115 to Vordernberg

A9 from Liezen, exit at Traboch and take the B115 to Vordernberg

We start at Radwerk IV in Vordernberg (1), 839 m, and walk out of the valley. Shortly after the Lehrfrischhütte, we turn right and follow the hiking trail, which leads continuously uphill to the Barbarakreuz. The descent to the Hirnalm is via paths and forest roads, with some short counter-climbs to overcome. After leaving the forest, we come to the pastures and shortly afterwards to the Hirnalm huts (2), 934 m. From the Hirnalm, we follow the gravel road to the Krumpen valley floor and see information boards about mining and nature conservation at the car park. For the next few kilometers, we hike out of the valley on the quiet road along the Krumpenbach stream to the beginning of Hafnig and the intersection with the road overpass. Here we turn right, cross the stream, and continue for about 300 m parallel to the main road. After a short climb along the asphalt road, we reach a wayside shrine on the hill, where we turn left. Across scenic meadows, we reach the outskirts of the town and finally the main square in Trofaiach (3), 658 m. Through the center and on across the Vordernberger Bach stream, the hiking trail leads past Mell Castle until, after a few meters of ascent, we reach the Mell plateau and the landscape picture frame. We start at Radwerk IV in Vordernberg (1), 839 m, and walk out of the valley. Shortly after the Lehrfrischhütte, we turn right and follow the hiking trail, which climbs steadily. We turn right and follow the gravel road, which leads across well-tended cultivated land to the valley floor of the Laintalbach stream. In the small village of Wolkersdorf, we turn left and hike uphill along a forest road across meadows and through the forest. The short detour to the “G'spitzten Wand” (4), 872 m, is highly recommended due to the view. Caution! Short, steep, and exposed section. Back on the main path, we hike a few more meters uphill before continuing downhill on forest roads and paths to the Maria Freienstein pilgrimage church. Via the paved access road to the pilgrimage church, we reach the main road, which we cross and shortly afterwards reach the center of St. Peter Freienstein (5), 605 m.

Photo point “Landscape frame on the Mell plateau” near Trofaiach, with a view of the striking limestone peak of the Reiting, which we had seen repeatedly during the first stage.

General information about public transportation in the region: www.verbundlinie.at

Several parking options in town.

Refreshments in Vordernberg:

Gasthof “Schwarzer Adler” inn, Tel.: +43 3849 264, 8794 Vordernberg, Hauptstraße 98, www.vordernb-schwarzer-adler.at
Gasthaus Langreiter, Tel.: +43 3849 210, 8794 Vordernberg, Hauptsraße 16 (short detour Styrian Iron Trail or Erzwanderweg)

Accommodation in Vordernberg:

Gasthof “Schwarzer Adler,” Tel.: +43 3849 264, 8794 Vordernberg, Hauptstraße 98, www.vordernb-schwarzer-adler.at
Gasthaus Langreiter, Tel.: +43 3849 210, 8794 Vordernberg, Hauptsraße 16 (short detour from the Styrian Iron Trail or Erzwanderweg

Accommodation in Vordernberg/Präbichl:

Pension Polsterrinne, Tel.: +43 664 8785 866, 8794 Vordernberg, Hauptstraße 2, www.pensionpolsterrinne.jimdofree.com
Präbichlerhof, Tel.: +43 3849 21960, 8794 Vordernberg, Grübl 6, www.praebichler-hof.at

Infrastructure in Vordernberg:

Doctors: Dr. Erwin Wurm, Tel.: +43 3849 21944, 8794 Vordernberg, Hauptstraße 90
Grocery store: Nah & Frisch; Hausladen “Schwarzer Adler” (9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
ATM: at Nah & Frisch

Sights in Vordernberg:

Blast furnace museum Radwerk IV, Tel.: +43 650 3372 097, 8794 Vordernberg, Peter-Tunner-Straße 2
Erzbergbahn, +43 664 5081 500, 8794 Vordernberg, Hauptstraße 140, www.erzbergbahn.at

Refreshments along the way:

Einkehr Trofaiach:

Hirn Alm, Tel.: +43 660 5290503, 8793 Hafning bei Trofaiach, Krumpen 60
Gasthaus Unterdechler, Tel.: +43 3847 2225, 8793 Hafning bei Trofaiach, Mautgasse 4, www.gasthaus-unterdechler.sto.io
Cafe Schrittwieser, Tel.: +43 3847 2263, 8793 Trofaiach, Hauptstraße 86
Gasthof „Zum Goldenen Ochsen“, Tel.: +43 3847 38444, 8793 Trofaiach, Hauptstraße 57
Cafe Gande, Tel.: +43 3847 34033, 8793 Trofaiach, Raiffeisenplatz 1

Refreshments in Trofaiach:

Gasthaus Unterdechler, Tel.: +43 3847 2225, 8793 Hafning bei Trofaiach, Mautgasse 4, www.gasthaus-unterdechler.sto.io
Cafe Schrittwieser, Tel.: +43 3847 2263, 8793 Trofaiach, Hauptstraße 86
Gasthof “Zum Goldenen Ochsen,” Tel.: +43 3847 38444, 8793 Trofaiach, Hauptstraße 57
Cafe Gande, Tel.: +43 3847 34033, 8793 Trofaiach, Raiffeisenplatz 1

Accommodation in Trofaiach:

Glögglhof, Tel.: +43 680 2204 879, 8793 Trofaiach, Erzherzog-Johann-Straße 11, www.gloegglhof.at
Gästehaus Dorfer, Tel.: +43 664 3818 208, 8793 Trofaiach, Trabocherstraße 7, www.gaestehaus-dorfer.at

Infrastructure Trofaiach:

Doctors: Dr. Stefan Rieder, Tel.: +43 3847 2336, 8793 Trofaiach, Kehrgasse 43a
Dr. Heinz Tesar, Tel.: +43 3847 3241, 8793 Trofaiach, Hauptstraße 93
Pharmacy: Maria Hilf Apotheke, Tel.: +43 3847 2247, www.apotheke-mariahilf.com
Grocery store: Billa Plus
ATM: Sparkasse, Raiffeisenbank

Sights in Trofaiach:

Stibichhofen Castle City Museum, Tel.: +43 699 1300 5202, 8793 Trofaiach, Rebenburggasse 2, www.schloss-stibichhofen.at
Trofaiach Water Park, Tel.: +43 3847 2255, 8793 Trofaiach, Badgasse 2

SB-Automat 24-Stunden Ab-Hof-Verkauf Bleyer Wolkersdorf, Tel.: +43 676 4352 071, 8793 Trofaiach, Laintal 21
Gasthaus Mossauer, Tel.: +43 664 2317182, 8793 Laintal 56

Refreshments in St. Peter-Freienstein:

Freiensteinerhof, Tel.: +43 3842 25116, 8792 St. Peter-Freienstein, Traidersbergstraße 14, www.freiensteinerhof.at
Zur Stub´n, Tel.: +43 664 3890 002, 8792 St. Peter-Freienstein, Hauptstraße 13

Accommodation in St. Peter-Freienstein:

Freiensteinerhof, Tel.: +43 3842 25116, 8792 St. Peter-Freienstein, Traidersbergstraße 14, www.freiensteinerhof.at

Infrastructure in St. Peter-Freienstein:

Doctors: Dr. Susanne Scholtes-Domian, Tel.: +43 3842 25390, 8792 St. Peter am Freienstein, Traidersbergstraße 17
Grocery store: Billa
ATM

Sights in St. Peter-Freienstein:

Maria Freienstein pilgrimage church, Tel.: +43 3847 2453, 8792 St. Peter-Freienstein,
Freiensteinweg 7, Opening hours: Sat. – Sun. 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., www.kirche-vordernbergertal.at
Friedhofen Castle, Tel.: +43 3842 22922, Traidersbergstraße 14, 8792 St. Peter-Freienstein

freytag & berndt hiking and cycling map, WK 041, Hochschwab - Veitschalpe - Eisenerz - Bruck an der Mur