Masenberg via Schwaig, Pöllauberg

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty medium

Route 15,4 km

Time 5:00 h

Uphill 640 hm

Downhill 640 hm

Highest point 1260 m

Along this hike, there are numerous marvellous viewpoints of the region and far beyond.

The starting point of this circular hike is the well-known Marian pilgrimage site of Pöllauberg. The municipality of Pöllauberg and the market town of Pöllau form the Pöllau Valley Nature Park in Eastern Styria.

This hike offers the opportunity to become a "summiteer" on the one hand and to combine the two focal points of "nature" and "culture" on the other:

Sacred art and organ hiking

Best season

January

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

More information

Pöllauberg, Nature Park Arena

By car from Vienna

If you are driving from Vienna to Pöllauberg near Hartberg, take the A2 towards Graz and drive about 110 kilometers until you reach the Hartberg exit. From there, follow the B54 in the direction of Pöllau/Pöllauberg.

By car from Graz

To get from Graz to Pöllauberg near Hartberg, take the A2 in the direction of Vienna. After about 30 kilometers, take the Gleisdorf West exit and then take the B54 towards Hartberg/Pöllau. Follow the B54 for about 25 kilometers until you reach Pöllau/Pöllauberg.

By car from Salzburg

To get to Pöllauberg near Hartberg from Salzburg, take the A1 towards Vienna. Drive about 110 kilometers to exit 109 (Salzburg junction). There change to the A9 towards Graz. At St. Michael, follow the S6 towards Kapfenberg. Continue on the S6 until the Krieglach exit. From there, take the B72 and then the L405 to Pöllau/Pöllauberg.

Pöllauberg, Nature Park Arena

Starting from the car park above the Naturparkarena, we walk to the crossroads with the chapel and the entrance to Pöllauberg.
At the chapel, we keep left and walk approx. 200 metres along the Pöllaubergstraße L431 to the next crossroads with the signpost "Hartberg" and the red-white-red marking no. 942.
We continue uphill "towards Olmstoll", where we immediately come across a slightly hidden bench directly on the hiking trail.
Keeping to marker no. 942, we reach the Masenberg with its summit cross, Glückskapelle chapel and Schutzwirt inn after about an hour.
At the Glückskapelle chapel, we keep left and follow the red-white-red hiking trail no. 950 towards Grafendorf and Hartberg past the Olmstoll (inn).
We cross the municipal road to Vorau and take hiking trail no. 07 towards Schwaig/Hartberg.
We walk past the air quality monitoring station on hiking trail no. 07 to Wiesberg-Straße.
Heading south on this road, we come across a transformer where we turn left and walk to the "Schwaig" landmark at 970 metres above sea level.
Once there, we follow the signposts towards Pöllauberg, the red-white-red marking no. 943, until we reach the Pöllaubergstraße L431.
However, we now take the access road into the village of Pöllauberg and visit the pilgrimage church.
Via the steps of the west portal of the pilgrimage church, we join the hiking trail towards Pöllau, but immediately leave it again to the right and take the Kogelweg to the car park above the nature park arena.

Important telephone numbers:

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

The trail is easy to walk and therefore suitable for the whole family. Correct behaviour when hiking: Rules of behaviour when hiking

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

Hikers should avoid visiting the forest approx. 1.5 hours before sunrise and after sunset, as wild animals are particularly active at 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 making fires is strictly forbidden in the forest!
In principle, every person in the forest is allowed to collect 2kg of mushrooms and berries per day for their own use. It is only prohibited if the forest owner expressly forbids it.

Small backpack with water bottle (+ provisions)
Sturdy shoes
Appropriate clothing - preferably several layers - "onion principle"
Rain and sun protection
Hiking poles as required
Mobile phone
Small first aid kit
Route description
Before starting the hike, check where you can stop for refreshments, including opening times, or pack suitable provisions.

Special vantage points include the summit cross and the Olmstoll on the Masenberg as well as the Wiesberg road.

Timetables and travel information can be found at Österreichische Bundesbahnen (ÖBB) or at Verkehrsauskunft Verbundlinie.
For local transport we recommend the SAM-Sammeltaxi Oststeiermark. HF5809 Oberneuberg - Pöllauberg Ort

Information about the region, places to stop for refreshments and overnight accommodation, excursion destinations etc. can be found here:

Eastern Styria Tourist Board
Pöllau Valley Nature Park office
Castle 1
8225 Pöllau
Phone: +43 3335 4210
www.naturpar-poellauertal.at
www.oststeiermark.com

Current weather
Mobility Eastern Styria with shared taxi SAM

Kompass Map, Hiking Map Nature Park Pöllauer Valley 1:30,000

Find out about maps, hiking brochures and other tour tips at the tourist office. You can also order information material on our website from the comfort of your own home.
Rother hiking guide "Oststeiermark - Von den Fischbacher Alpen bis in die Thermenregion", 50 tours, Elisabeth Zienitzer & Silvia Sarcletti paperback, ISBN-10, 376334577 available in bookshops