Masenberg circuit via Lüßwaldsattel, Pöllauberg

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty medium

Route 10,8 km

Time 4:00 h

Uphill 650 hm

Downhill 650 hm

Highest point 1260 m

Mixed forests, orchards and fields accompany us on this varied hike.

The starting point of this circular hike is the Natureparkarena at the 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" - numerous magnificent viewpoints of the region and far beyond await us. The diversity of flora and fauna is impressive every time!

Finally, it is worth visiting the high Gothic pilgrimage church and ending the hike with a visit to one of the friendly hosts.

Best season

January

February

March

April

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June

July

August

September

October

November

December

More information

Pöllauberg, Nature Park Arena

The Pöllau Valley Nature Park is located in the heart of Eastern Styria, the garden of Austria, approx. 60 km north-east of Graz and approx. 150 km south of Vienna

By car from Vienna
If you are driving from Vienna to Pöllau bei Hartberg, take the A2 towards Graz and drive about 110 kilometres until you reach the Hartberg exit. From there, follow the B54 in the direction of Pöllau.

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

By car from Salzburg
To get to Pöllau bei Hartberg from Salzburg, take the A1 motorway towards Vienna. Drive about 110 kilometres to exit 109 (Salzburg junction). There change to the A9 motorway in the direction of 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, Nature Park Arena

Pöllauberg - Masenberg

Starting from the parking lot 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 m on 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.
Following trail no. 942, we reach the Masenberg with its summit cross, Glückskapelle chapel and Shelter inn after more than an hour.

Masenberg - Dorfhansl Chapel - Pöllauberg

From the summit of the Masenberg (1261 m) above the refuge and the Glückskapelle chapel, the trail continues to descend relatively steeply, following the red-white-red markings no. 913 and the yellow dots of the forest nature trail to the Lüßwaldsattel saddle.
Once at the Lüßwaldsattel, we keep left on the 941 hiking trail in the direction of Pöllau (forest nature trail - short section).
At the signpost right next to the Dorfhanslkapelle chapel, we keep to the right, following the red-white-red marking no. 941 towards Pöllau and continue down the valley to the estate of the de Buigne vulgo "Zeil-Kratzer" family.From here we follow the white-red-white signs no. 6 back to Pöllauberg.

Important telephone numbers:

European emergency call: 112
Emergency call mountain rescue: 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
Cell phone
Small first aid kit
Route description
Before starting the hike, check where you can stop for refreshments, including opening times, or pack suitable food and drink.

The loop via the former GH "Zeil-Kratzer" with the pretty "Troadkästen" - which can also be rented as vacation homes - is worthwhile!

Timetables and travel information can be found at Österreichische Bundesbahnen (ÖBB) or at Verkehrsauskunft Verbundlinie.
For local transportation we recommend the SAM-Sammeltaxi Oststeiermark. HF5811 Oberneuberg - Zisserkreuz

Information about the region, places to stop and stay, excursion destinations etc. can be found here:

Eastern Styria Tourist Board
Nature Park Pöllauer Valley office
Schloss 1
8225 Pöllau, Austria
Phone: +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