Vulkanland Tour
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A tight circular tour through the south-east of Styria.
Starting from St. Ruprecht an der Raab, this circular tour takes us into the volcanic countryside. No high peaks await us, but the ups and downs through the hilly landscape make the tour with its numerous sights, such as Riegersburg Castle, particularly attractive.
Characteristics
The tour in numbers
challenging
Level of difficulty
More information
The market town of St.Ruprecht an der Raab is located in Eastern Styria and is very easy to reach via the A2 motorway from Vienna (approx. 2 hours) and Graz (approx. 30 min.).
- Arrival from Vienna and from Graz: On the A2 from Vienna and from Graz, take motorway exit 161 / Gleisdorf West in the direction of B54/B64. Follow the B65 / Gleisdorf federal road until you reach the B54 / Wechselbundesstraße. At the roundabout take the second exit to the B64 / Rechberg-Bundesstraße. After about 6 km turn left to St. Ruprecht an der Raab.
Route planner
- From the main square, the central cycling and racing bike starting point in St. Ruprecht an der Raab, this circular tour starts out via the district of Fünfing and the Gut Freiberg golf club on a ridge to Ludersdorf-Wilfersdorf, where we keep to the right to reach Laßnitzthal.
- In Nestelbach near Graz we keep to the left to cycle to Empersdorf after an ascent over the Schemerlhöhe. The Vulkanland Tour continues through small villages such as Pirching am Traubenberg in a steady up and down to Frannach.
- Shortly afterwards we keep to the left to reach St. Stefan im Rosental via Glatzau. Perhaps interesting for hobby cooks among you: the famous cook Johann Lafer comes from this beautifully situated village.
- The rest of the tour takes us through the romantic hilly landscape of the Vulkanland via Gnas to Bad Gleichenberg, one of the most important tourist resorts in Styria. In addition to the thermal baths with the spa gardens and the beautiful main square, numerous culinary hosts invite you to take a well-deserved break.
- We leave Bad Gleichenberg heading north to reach Mühldorf near Feldbach. We drive around the district capital Feldbach in the middle of the Raab valley to the east. From now on, the route goes steadily uphill to Riegersburg, the culinary centre of south-eastern Austria.
- Along the way are manufactories such as Vulkanland sparkling wine, Zotter chocolates, the Fromagerie zur Riegersburg, the Vinothek and Turmschinkerei Fink or Gölles brandies and vinegars. Of course, the imposingly situated Riegersburg, which by the way has never been taken, can be seen from afar.
- Then we cycle to Walkersdorf, where we keep to the left to reach Markt Hartmannsdorf via Ottendorf an der Rittschein. Here we turn right and after a few kilometres follow the Ilz river from Gnies/Sinabelkirchen to Großpesendorf.
- Now another small mountain stage awaits us to return to St. Ruprecht an der Raab past beautifully situated apple orchards and vineyards via Prebuch and Kühwiesen.
Sights and culinary stops along the tour - despite all the sporting ambitions, a visit to a Riegersburg Buschenschank should not be missed.
There are several parking spaces available on the
main square in St. Ruprecht an der Raab. Alternatively, about 150 m away, past the Hotel Locker & Légere and the Marktheurigen Strobl, there are numerous parking spaces at the large park in the middle of St. Ruprecht an der Raab.
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View of the Riegersburg, Eastern Styria | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | Rudi Ferder (c) TVB Riegersburg
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Racing cycling in Eastern Styria | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | Robert Walcher
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Tourismus Region St. Ruprecht an der Raab, Oststeiermark | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | Therese Raser
What the weather will be like
Kirchbach in der Steiermark (329m)
The day starts sunny, but will be partly cloudy in the afternoon.
Partly sunny in the morning, gradually becoming cloudy in the afternoon.
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