Apple Road Bike Tour in Eastern Styria

• We start the tour at the apple road business Garten-Hotel Ochensberger. Here we can easily park our car and also borrow a state-of-the-art and always maintained e-bike (for a fee and with advance reservation online).
• First we ride a few metres north - towards the centre of the village - and then turn right towards the railway station and the Pizzeria Azzurro adventure café. There we come to the Raabtalradweg R11, which we follow out of town in the direction of Arndorf and Unterfladnitz.
• In Unterfladnitz we pass the Gasthof Landseele in the direction of Weiz, follow the R11 in the direction of Wolga and then change to the Ilztalradweg R10. After Unterfladnitz we turn right in the direction of the R11, but then cycle straight on following the R11.
• After a short climb, we continue to follow the R10 to turn right towards Wolga. Along the ridge through Wolga we head towards Lohngraben. Directly at the ridge we turn left towards Eidexberg, Lohngraben and Aronia Manufaktur Köck - always following the direction of Rollsdorf.
• If you want to shorten the tour, you can follow the Ilztalradweg R10 and then cycle via the WZ3 and WZ4 via Gleisdorf back to St. Ruprecht an der Raab.
• If you choose the tour as marked here, you should definitely make a stop at the Aronia Manufaktur Köck. The farm shop and a guided tour (by appointment and even free of charge with the GenussCard) invite you to linger and browse.

• Once in Rollsdorf (over a small bridge), we take a sharp left onto the new footpath and cycle path built in 2020 in a northerly direction - towards Etzersdorf. Shortly before arriving in Etzersdorf, we turn right in the direction of Wetzelberg, Pircha (following the signs of the Buschenschank Lammer) onto the WZ16, the apple tour, which also leads to the national Weinland Steiermark bike tour.
• Here we cycle in the heart of the Styrian Apple Road - in the largest apple-growing region in Europe - to Puch. Thousands of apple trees in full bloom enchant here. In Puch in the region of Apfelland - Stubenbergsee and all around, numerous apple growers with many other products from the garden of Austria await your visit.
• If you want to shorten the tour, you can take the Puch tour via the Pischelsdorf cycle path here.

• If we cycle the entire tour, we continue to follow the WZ16 in Puch until we reach the Feistritz. There we change to the Feistritztalradweg R8. Here we ride refreshingly alongside the Feistritz through the Feistritztalklamm gorge to the Stubenbergsee lake. Here we should definitely plan a break to enjoy the Stubenbergsee - the warmest bathing lake in Austria with a wide range of leisure activities.
• Continue along the Feistritztal cycle path with a climb to St. Johann bei Herberstein to the Herberstein Zoo and Garden Palace. The beautifully designed zoo with its historic Herberstein Castle are just as worth a visit as the numerous refreshment stops along the route.
• Again, a short cut of the tour would be by means of the Stubenberg tour via the Weinberg tour (Siegersdorf) back to Puch.

• We continue along the R8 Feistritztalradweg to Kroisbach an der Feistritz. There we leave it and continue on the WZ2 - the Hügellandtour. The name really does justice to this district cycle path: hilly it goes here south of Pichelsdorf via Gersdorf, Oberrettenbach to Ilztal or Pfebensdorf.
• In Prebensdorf we again briefly follow the R10 Ilztalradweg southwards (Sinabelkirchen). After about one kilometre we leave the Ilztalradweg again to turn right onto the WZ3 Hartwaldtour. We follow this via Nitschaberg to Nitscha.
• There another district cycle path - the WZ4 (connecting cycle path Nitscha - Gleisdorf) is waiting for us. We cycle along this path to Gleisdorf. The town with the sun in its heart impresses with numerous shopping opportunities and a beautiful town centre. Take time for a leisurely stop and enjoy the flair of this small town in Eastern Styria.
• On the main square of Gleisdorf we change again to the Raabtalradweg R11 to cycle back to St. Ruprecht an der Raab via Albersdorf and Wollsdorf. On the way there is an inviting farm - "Bauernhof Hütter - Guats vom Hof" and the Steiererkaft Kernothek, which is definitely worth a stop with its large shop and guided tours.
• After arriving in St. Ruprecht an der Raab, we can take a break at one of the many restaurants in St. Ruprecht an der Raab and continue the tour to Weiz - or we can finish here and do the second stage on another day.

• For all those who still have energy, we start from St. Ruprecht on the Raabtalradweg R11 in the direction of Unterfladnitz. There we change to the FunErgy Tour in the direction of Weiz. Via Krottendorf we pass the Hotel Allmer and Ederer and cycle via the pilgrimage church and basilica on the Weizberg and the open-air swimming pool in Weiz towards the main square.
• A short detour to the main square of the district capital with the church Tabor should also be planned, as well as a stop at one of the numerous restaurants and ice cream parlours with homemade ice cream specialities.
• After the main square, we follow the FunErgy Tour further south, past Weiz railway station and change there to the Raabtalradweg R11 to follow it via Preding, Farcha and Unterfladnitz back to St. Ruprecht an der Raab.

An alternative starting point is of course Puch - as the centre of the Styrian Apple Road:

From Puch via WZ 16 to the Feistritztalradweg (R8), past Lake Stubenberg and Herberstein to Kroisbach. To Gersdorf on the WZ 2 (Pischelsdorftour), to Prebensdorf on the "Hügellandtour", then to Nitscha on the "Hartwaldtour" (WZ 3), from Nitscha to Gleisdorf on WZ 4. Then follow the Raabtal cycle path (R 11) via St.Ruprecht an der Raab to Weiz. From Weiz to Unterfladnitz on the "Funergy Tour", then via the "Verbindungsweg" through Baumgarten back to the WZ16 and to Puch.

There are also numerous shortcuts possible:

• Ruprecht tour via Ilztal cycle path
• Puch tour via Pischelsdorf cycle path
• Stubenberg tour via Weinberg tour

For local transportation, we recommend the SAM-Sammeltaxi Oststeiermark, which also takes bicycles if booked in advance.

You will find free parking directly at the Garten-Hotel Ochensberger and in front of the Fluss- und Familienerlebnisbad.

Puch

At the crossroads by Gasthof Meißl in the centre of Puch, head east to the car park by the swimming pool.

Eastern Styria Tourist Board 
Apfelland Office - Lake Stubenberg
Stubenberg at the lake 5
8223 Stubenberg on the lake
Tel. +43 3176 8882
www.oststeiermark.com

Eastern Styria Tourist Board
Office St. Ruprecht an der Raab
Lower Main Street 27
8181 St. Ruprecht an der Raab
Tel. +43 664 2353414
www.oststeiermark.com