From toque-awarded chef to damsel of the castle

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty easy

Route 5,3 km

Time 1:30 h

Uphill 200 hm

Downhill 200 hm

Highest point 835 m

Enjoy a taster of the BergZeitReise - stage 10. But today it's not from Pretul to the Stanglalm, but from Langenwang in the forest home of Peter Rosegger on wide, leisurely paths to one of the most important fortifications in Styria, the ruins of Hohenwang Castle. Here on the hill, where the castle complex is well maintained by the Hohenwang Castle Association, we enjoy a wonderful view of the lower Mürztal valley and the Mürztal mountains. The ruins of Hohenwang Castle can be visited free of charge. In Langenwang itself, culinary delights await us in numerous catering establishments, with the Krainer restaurant at the start and end point of our circular hike even boasting award-winning cuisine.

Hohenwang was first mentioned in 1122 and in the 13th century it became the centre of jurisdiction and administration for the entire region. After the castle complex fell into almost complete disrepair in the 19th century, the Langenwang Castle Association was able to renovate the entire complex from 1961 and restore it to its current, attractive state.

Starting from the centre of Langenwang, this castle complex can now be hiked on an easy circular trail. Several information boards present the varied history of the castle. At the end of the tour, the inns and restaurants in Langenwang await all hungry and thirsty walkers.

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

More information

You can find detailed information about travelling here: Link zur Anreise

You will find parking spaces at the starting point of the tour in Langenwang. There are also some parking spaces at the motorway subway mentioned in the description. Please observe the parking regulations and do not block the narrow access road!

We start at the Hotel Krainer in the centre of Langenwang and walk along the main road towards Mürzzuschlag, past the Siglhof farm, around 150 metres to the clearly visible municipal office. Here the Hochschlossstraße branches off to the right. Follow this road until you reach a junction. Keep slightly to the right here (signposted) and you will come to a motorway subway. You can also drive here by car from the town centre, there are several parking spaces available.

Immediately after the subway, a dirt track (information board) takes us straight uphill to the edge of the forest at the start of a wide hiking trail. This leads, still slightly uphill, to a clearing with a game feeding area and on to the first buildings of the defence system (wooden buildings, large meadow).

Now we walk straight uphill to the first large castle wall (still poorly visible from the meadow) and the mighty ruins.

After visiting the castle complex (please do not climb around on the historic walls!), we briefly follow our ascent path, but branch off sharply to the left downhill at the large meadow with the wooden buildings mentioned above on a somewhat narrower path (forest path, not marked, but easily recognisable) in the direction of Mürztal. At the junction with a forest path, we keep to the right and follow this path without much ascent until we reach the clearing with the game feeding area (power line) already known from the ascent.

Keeping to the left, we now head directly downhill, past the Theresienkapelle chapel, across a large meadow to a small accompanying road next to the motorway. We walk under the motorway (subway) and via Badgasse back to the main road and the starting point of the circular tour.

The entire trail is on fall-free, easy-to-walk, wide paths.
Only in wet conditions after rainfall can short sections of the path be slippery.

Please do NOT use the old castle walls as climbing walls! Risk of damage and, above all, falling!

If the worst comes to the worst: call mountain rescue 140

Tip for reporting an emergency - answer the six following questions:

What has happened?
How many injured people?
Where did the accident happen (possibly GPS coordinates)?
Who is reporting (callback number)?
When did the accident happen?
Weather at the scene of the accident?

Sporty footwear is recommended for this short hike and a rain jacket if the weather is uncertain. Mountain equipment is not necessary.

By the way, packing your rucksack properly makes things much easier:
Pack heavy items first. The water bottle should always be within easy reach in a side pocket. All items that are needed frequently, such as sunglasses, camera or hiking map, belong on top. Emergency equipment, including blister plasters, should be in every rucksack and it is always advisable to dress according to the ‘onion system’!

The Siglhof is located directly on the trail. The former ‘Siglhof’ inn, one of the oldest buildings in Langenwang, has been a restaurant, hostel, communication centre and meeting place for over 500 years. Today, the building houses flats as well as temporary exhibitions. Programme information is available from the market town of Langenwang (Tel.: +43 3854 6155 0).

Incidentally, the Krainer restaurant has 4 toques and the Krainers' like to take a leisurely hike from their hotel to the Hohenwang castle ruins themselves to relax when time permits.

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

The BusBahnBim app from Verbundlinie makes it easier than ever to find timetable information:

All bus, train and tram connections in Austria can be queried 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

Further information:

Tourist Office Hochsteiermark