Hiking route Hochalm - Maria Schnee from "Kühberger" - Touren-Impression #1 | © Erlebnisregion Murtal Hiking route Hochalm - Maria Schnee from "Kühberger" - Touren-Impression #1 | © Erlebnisregion Murtal

Hochalm - Maria Schnee from "Kühberger"

Maria Schnee is the fairytale name of the highest place of pilgrimage in the Eastern Alps, situated on the Hochalm. The idyllic mountain church is a very special place for many pilgrims. The view, which stretches from the Seetal Alps to Semmering, is unique and the panorama impressive! This tour can be done either from the center of Seckau or a little shorter from the Kühbergerhof.
This hike takes you from Seckau to the highest pilgrimage church “Maria Schnee” on the Hochalm. Here you can either hike from the center of Seckau and arrive by public transport or drive to the Kühbergerhof and shorten the tour by a total of 8 kilometers.
There is a legend about the wonderful chapel on the Hochalm that will turn your hike into a devotional experience.

Tip - A legendary hiking experience:

Here is the legend “Maria Schnee” from the book “Mysterious Murtal” by Markus Beren and Tamara Markel

To the north of Seckau are the Seckau Alps with the Hochreichart and the Zinken. On the easternmost peak, called Hochalm, lies the simple little mountain church of Maria Schnee at an altitude of 1,816 meters. It was built in 1660 by the dean of the Seckau collegiate church, Paul Auer, in order to hold church services three times a year for the inhabitants of the Alps. In the past, the alpine people on the Hochalm became increasingly careless and wasteful and did not appreciate the abundant gifts of heaven. From year to year, the yields from the many mountain pastures became smaller and smaller, livestock numbers declined and finally the mountain pastures were almost deserted. But the people did not improve. Once, at the beginning of the summer, so much snow fell that it remained there until winter and no cattle could be herded up. So the farmers decided to build a church in honor of the Mother of God on top of the mountain to propitiate the heavens. And because there was so much snow on the high alpine pasture at the time, the little church was given the beautiful name “Maria im Schnee” (Mary in the snow). Since then, the mountain pasture has been well again and the cattle are thriving.

Characteristics

Skill
Fitness

Best season

January
February
March
December

The tour in numbers

medium
Level of difficulty
17,6 km
Route
6:00 h
Time
1010 hm
Uphill
1010 hm
Downhill
1822 m
Highest point

Map & downloads

More information

Knittelfeld - Seckau Ort- Attention access by bicycle to the Kühbergerhof is prohibited.
From the village center, follow Sonnwenddorfstraße until it joins Kühbergerstraße. Follow this road to the Kühbergerhof. (Please note, if you are traveling to the tour by car, you can start the tour from the Kühbergerhof and thus save around 8 kilometers, prepare € 2,-- coins for the barrier)

We first follow the forest road, but the excellent signposting soon leads us away from the serpentine road. The trail leads us along some huts and a stream. Then the path turns into a footpath, we also pass a game gate until the path leads uphill to the right on a forest path. The path is a little steeper but easy to walk. We now leave the stream that has accompanied us until now. After the ascent in the forest, we come out on the forest road and can continue directly opposite on an alpine pasture. Now the view becomes wider and we reach the car park in front of the Grafenalm - attention, the Grafenalm is closed. Here you have a wonderful view in the direction of Murtal and Zirbitzkogel. We are now about halfway there.

On the left side of the hill is a prominent tree - the path now leads directly past the Wetterlärche. Of course, you can also follow the forest road, because the ascent over the Almenboden is relatively steep, and it is worthwhile to use hiking poles here. We then briefly pass through a piece of forest again. The path continues and we can already see the Hochalm with Maria Schnee in front of us. A great photo motif from this position. Following the wide path - which becomes steeper again - we soon lose sight of the Hochalm again. The climbers among us dare to climb directly over the alpine pasture floor.

But after the ascent above the path, as soon as we have finally reached the tree line, we see the Seckauer Zinken and the special shape and red colour that this mountain range has. Even though we have the feeling that we must have reached Maria Schnee long ago, we realise that we are now approaching the church from the back.

Even if Maria Schnee is the destination for most hikers - a detour to the summit cross of the Hochalm is definitely recommended. It is only a few hundred metres to the top, but you will be rewarded with a magnificent view of the Eisenerz Alps and Hochschwab.

Refreshment stop

Ramplerhütte, Seckau, +43 664 4648862

From Knittelfeld bus station with bus no. 844 via Gaal, Puchschachen to Seckau. 
Adeg Seckau or after clarification Kühbergerhof Seckau Tel: +43 680 1201461
Church services:

under Seckau Abbey ; Tel. +43 3514 5234-0

Hiking map freytag & berndt WK 212 Seetaler Alpen, Seckauer Alpen, Judenburg, Knittelfeld

Route number: 32

You can also find this tour on the following hiking map:

  • Region Murtal - Hiking map 1 & 2 - Tour 24a

The hiking maps 1,2&3 - you can get for free at the tourism association Murtal - info@murtal.at - Tel.: +43 3577 26600

You can also find more information about the region on - www.mural.at

BergErleben, Band 1, Siegbald S. Zeller

Gallery

What the weather will be like

Seckau (851m)

Morning
slightly cloudy
11°C
55%
5 km/h
Noon
cloudy
13°C
50%
5 km/h
Night
foggy
12°C
75%
5 km/h
Sunny in the early morning, but soon clouds will gather and will lead to light rain towards evening.
Morning
foggy
9°C
80%
5 km/h
Noon
cloudy
10°C
25%
5 km/h
Night
cloudy
10°C
15%
5 km/h
Light rain in the early morning, but most of the day will be dry.
25.10.2024
slightly cloudy
8°C 16°C
26.10.2024
slightly cloudy
9°C 17°C
27.10.2024
slightly cloudy
10°C 17°C

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