Hirschbirnweg, direction Rabenwald

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty medium

Route 12,3 km

Time 4:00 h

Uphill 460 hm

Downhill 460 hm

Highest point 751 m

The Hirschbirn hiking trail towards Rabenwald is family-friendly and designed as a circular hiking trail. Enjoy the fantastic views of the beauty of the region.

...why Hirschbirn trail?

The Pöllau Valley Nature Park is often referred to as the home of the "Hirschbirne" pear. This pear is an old Styrian variety, whose name is derived from the word "fall" ("Hiascht"), as it can only be harvested from mid-October. In the Pöllau Valley, large stands of the trees are still preserved - thanks to the foresight of the farmers.The delicacies from the Hirschbirne such as juice, brandy, vinegar, jelly and vitamin-rich Kletzen (dried pears) are available alongside many other regional products in the farm store on the main square in Pöllau; or simply visit our farmers on their farms at home: you can get the addresses of our direct marketers at the tourist office.

Find out more about the Hirschbirn pear and the nature park at the Hirschbirn hirsch'n information station in Pöllau Castle Park and at the two stations (at the Schweighofer wine tavern and at the Laschet family) along the route (there are 7 stations in total).

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

More information

Pöllau, castle park

By car from Vienna

If you are driving from Vienna to Pöllau 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.

By car from Graz

To get from Graz to Pöllau bei 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.

By car from Salzburg

To get to Pöllau bei 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.

Pöllau Castle Park

P&R at the Pöllau bypass

Pöllau - Gleichweit nursery - Ziagl's Laube (Schweighofer wine tavern) - Halthansl (Ringhofer)

Starting from the signposts (near the Parkcafe) in the castle park, we head south through the park.
In the Ziegelofengasse we come across the red-white-red marking no. 923 and the green signs "Hirschbirnweg", which we follow for orientation.Passing the school center and the cemetery, we stay on the state road 432.
Shortly after the Gleichweit nursery, we turn left into the forest.
After the ascent through the forest, we arrive on the road and have the opportunity to visit the Schweighofer "Ziagl's Laube" wine tavern (note opening times). Then we follow the road uphill to the crossroads on the "Halt" and hike uphill towards NW along the Rabenwaldstraße (L432), marked red-white-red.

Halthansl (Ringhofer) - Höllmüllner (Heil family)

After approx. 500 m we leave the Rabenwaldstraße, turn left and shortly afterwards continue to the right (marker no. 923 and signs "Hirschbirnweg").
We walk through a forest and along numerous pear trees to the driveway of the Retter family farm. Following the markings, we head uphill to the farm Heil, vulgo Höllmüllner or Öllerbauer. Here the paths divide: the Hirschbirnenweg trail continues to the left, trail no. 923 (red-white-red) to the right.

Höllmüllner (Heil family) - Schwaighof - Haidenwaldturm - Pöllau

From the Heil farm we follow the signs "Hirschbirnweg" to the Laschet family farm with the Hirschbirnallee.
The path leads along newly planted deer pear and chestnut trees down across the meadow and along a section of road to the junction with the municipal road. After crossing the Lambach stream, we follow the signposted path northwards, which leaves the road at the bend near the Felberbauer estate.
Shortly before the observation tower in the Haidenwald forest, we meet path no. 944 (red-white-red), which we also use to return to our starting point at the Pöllau castle.

Important telephone numbers:

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

The trail is easy to walk and therefore suitable for the whole family. Tips for even more hiking fun: Rules of conduct when hiking

A few tips on correct and fair behavior 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 garbage in the forest.
Camping and making fires is strictly forbidden in the forest!
In principle, every person in the forest is allowed to collect 2 kg of mushrooms and berries per day for their own use. It is only prohibited if the forest owner expressly forbids it.

Small rucksack 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 to stop for refreshments, including opening times, or pack appropriate food and drink

Visit the scenic diversity of the Pöllau Valley Nature Park

Plan enough time to enjoy the culinary delicacies

Timetables and travel information can be found on the website of the Austrian Federal Railways or at Verkehrsauskunft Verbundlinie.
For local transportation we recommend the SAM-Sammeltaxi Oststeiermark. Please book in good time!

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, Austria
Tel.: +43 3335 4210
www.naturpark-poellauertal.at
www.oststeiermark.com

current weather
Mobility Eastern Styria with SAM shared cab

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.