Montanweg - Ratten - St. Kathrein am Hauenstein, Ratten

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty medium

Route 16,4 km

Time 5:00 h

Uphill 701 hm

Downhill 696 hm

Highest point 1301 m

A varied themed hike that takes you along forest and field paths, local roads and short climbs to the summit of the Hauereck and thus also connects the communities of Ratten and St. Kathrein am Hauenstein.

The "Friedensstollen" (show gallery), which was closed in 1960, is the starting point of the mining nature trail. Along the trail, you can learn about how lignite was mined in those days by means of information boards at original Ratten mining sites.

Best season

January

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More information

Ratten is located approx. 25 km north of the district capital Weiz between Pretulaple and Joglland in the upper Feistriztal valley.

By car:
From Graz - A2 to Gleisdorf - take the 2nd exit at the traffic circle (B64/B72)
From Weiz - via B72
From Germany - via A3

Detailed information on how to get here can be found here.
Ratten, mining museum, leisure center (free)

We start our tour at the mining museum and the show tunnel at the Ratten leisure center
The path then leads us between the leisure center and the Red Cross to the main school park, where, in addition to display boards, a steam excavator shovel and a material ropeway hut remind us of former mining activities in the upper Feistritz valley
We continue around the school building in the direction of Keuchgraben
Approx. 100 meters after the main school, we turn left onto a somewhat steeper, narrow forest path to the next information board "Cable car support foundation"
We follow the slightly ascending forest path to the Grubfeldsiedlung before reaching the municipal road
After approx. 200 meters we keep left and come to several farmsteads
After another 150 meters, we branch off to the right onto a narrow forest path, past some single-family houses and then arrive at the Dirndlhof inn
With a beautiful view, we continue along the municipal road to Gasthof Ponyhof
Between the riding stables and tennis court, we continue on our way to the Moosbauern farm
At a right-hand bend in the gravel road at the edge of the field, we keep left and head towards the mining settlement
We follow this hiking trail for approx. 300 meters
After the next Montanlehrpfad signpost, we walk along paths and forest tracks to the next information board "Wetterschacht"
At the junction, we keep right, reach a farmstead and hike along a dirt track and the access road to the Hauereckhütte hut
Past the chairlift mountain station and the legendary Katharinenstein, we follow the path downhill to the "Zum alten Bergwerk" snack station
The mining memorial is also located nearby
Then continue north briefly to the end of the mining settlement
There we follow the signs to the right along beautiful forest paths back to the pony farm and continue along a municipal road and a forest path towards Ratten to the starting point of the mining museum.

European emergency call: 112
Emergency call mountain rescue: 140 (if possible please provide GPS data)
Rescue: 144
Fire brigade: 122
Police: 133

A few tips on correct and fair behaviour in the forest: (Source: www.bundesforste.at )

Hikers should avoid visits to the forest about 1.5 hours before sunrise and after sunset, as wild animals are particularly active during this time.

Plastic bottles, handkerchiefs, cigarette butts etc. have no place in the forest! Please make sure that you do not leave any rubbish in the forest.

Camping and lighting fires are strictly forbidden in the forest!

In principle, every person is allowed to pick 2 kg of mushrooms and berries per day for personal use. It is only prohibited if the forest owner expressly forbids it.

Small backpack with water bottle (+ provisions)
Sturdy shoes
Appropriate clothing - if possible several layers - "onion principle".
Rain and sun protectionWalking sticks as required
Mobile phone
Small first aid kit
Route description
Before starting the hike, check the possibilities for refreshments, including opening times, or pack appropriate food and drink.

We recommend a visit to the Mountain Farm Museum in Ratten.

Timetables and travel information can be found at Österreichische Bundesbahnen (ÖBB) or at Verkehrsauskunft Verbundlinie. For local transportation we recommend the SAM-Sammeltaxi Oststeiermark.

You can find information about the region, places to stop and stay overnight, excursion destinations, etc. here:

Eastern Styria Tourism Association
Joglland-Waldheimat office
8255 St. Jakob im Walde
Tel.: 03336/20255
info@joglland.at

Joglland-Waldheimat
Eastern Styria

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Mobility Eastern Styria with shared taxi SAM