In the footsteps of Peter Rosegger - The Christmettenweg
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This route takes you to the birthplace via short stretches of road and forest paths through forests. In between, the path also leads through meadows that bloom beautifully, especially in spring. The Christmettenweg in the Waldheimat is a popular family hiking destination, especially at Christmas time. In winter, it clearly shows the efforts the people of Alpler made to attend the church service back then.
In his story "On Christmas Night" from the famous book "When I was still the forest farmer's boy", Peter Rosegger describes his first walk to Christmas mass from the Kluppeneggerhof down to St. Kathrein am Hauenstein. The path that the Rosegger family took every Christmas Eve, often in storms and blowing snow, is still taken today on a guided torchlight hike in memory of the Waldheimat's great son.
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However, we do not walk from the birthplace to St. Kathrein as little Peter and his family did every year on Christmas Eve, but rather hike uphill from the idyllic town of St. Kathrein am Hauenstein to the birthplace. The path starts - how could it be otherwise - at the church of St. Kathrein am Hauenstein, Peter Rosegger's favorite church, beautifully located just above the town. The path leads along the Hirschbach stream via the Hochegger homestead to Lendkreuz, where we meet the Rosegger path, which leads from the Schanzsattel through the entire Waldheimat via the birthplace and the forest school at Alpl to the Stuhleck summit. We keep going, from now on always uphill, towards the birthplace, past the farm where Peter Rosegger trained as a tailor with Ignaz Orthofer. As quickly as his years of apprenticeship passed, we also quickly reach the place around which the entire forest home “revolves”, to his birthplace, which is also our destination. We will now take our time and immerse ourselves in the history of the local poet, nature lover, alert zeitgeist and promoter of tradition as well as fighter for the rights and preservation of rural life. Peter Rosegger spent his first 17 years here at the “Vorderen Kluppeneggerhof” until it was clear: He would not become a farmer. The stature is too delicate, the spirit too subtle. His talent was recognized during his tailoring apprenticeship and numerous sponsors made it possible for little Peter to become one of Austria's greatest poets: his life's work included 43 books as well as the publication of the monthly magazine "Heimgarten", which continued until 1953, long after his death Death appeared. With 15 million books and translations in more than 20 languages, Peter Rosegger was, alongside Jules Verne, the most read writer of his time. Alternatively, we can go back to St. Kathrein am Hauenstein on the same route via the Oberer Schlagbauer: on this route we go back along the same path for a part of the route and turn right onto path 737 a few hundred meters after the Lendkreuz. This path takes us to the aforementioned Obere Schlagbauern. Just after this farm we leave path 737 and turn left towards Unterer Schlagbauer, via which we return to our starting point (walking time 3 hours).
On Christmas Eve, a bus transfer is organized from St. Kathrein am Hauenstein to Alpl, from where the Christmettenweg can be walked. For more information, call +43 (0) 3336 / 20255! Rosegger Card: with one card you can visit all of the memorial sites of the great local poet! Further information can be found at www.steiermark.com/rosegger
A parking space is available directly at the central hiking starting point on the village square or at the church above the square in St. Kathrein am Hauenstein
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Video St. Kathrein am Hauenstein, Joglland forest home in Eastern Styria | © Skiinfo & Bergleben
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Peter Rosegger exhibition in St. Kathrein am Hauenstein, Joglland forest home in Eastern Styria | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | Tourismusverband Oststeiermark
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Peter Rosegger Exhibition_Table_Eastern Styria | © Gemeinde St. Kathrein am Hausenstein
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Theme trail In the footsteps of Peter Rosegger in Eastern Styria | © Stadtmarketing Hartberg | Thomas Grill
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Peter Rosegger memorial in St. Kathrein am Hauenstein, Joglland forest home in Eastern Styria | © Gemeinde St. Kathrein am Hauenstein | Tourismusverband Oststeiermark
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Favorite church_exterior view_Eastern Styria | © Gemeinde St. Kathrein am Hauenstein
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Information board in St. Kathrein am Hauenstein, Joglland forest home in Eastern Styria | © WEGES | Elisabeth Zienitzer/Silvia Sarcletti
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View of St. Kathrein am Hauenstein, Joglland forest home in Eastern Styria | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | Kurt Elmleitner
What the weather will be like
St. Kathrein am Hauenstein (783m)
Dry and partly sunny throughout the day, with cloudy periods from time to time.
Dry and sunny throughout the day with hardly any clouds.
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