Hungarian Mariazell Pilgrimage Route via Vorau

This variant leads us via the town of Güssing, Stegersbach, and the old town of Hartberg, initially directly to Vorau and then onwards to the Alpl in the Waldheimat. In Vorau in the Joglland, you will also find the particularly beautiful abbey of the same name.

Day 1
Hagensdorf near Heiligenbrunn / border (199 m) – Güssing (229 m) – Stegersbach (259 m)

Coming from Hungary, we first arrive in the small village of Hagensdorf. The route then continues through shady forests and across wide fields in the plains of Burgenland, via the town of Güssing to Stegersbach, which is also well known for its thermal spa.

Distance: approx. 37 kilometres

Day 2
Stegersbach (259 m) – Wörth (330 m) – St. Magdalena (430 m) – Hartberg (359 m)
Leaving Stegersbach, the route continues via St. Magdalena to Hartberg in Oststeiermark. Here, a walk through the beautiful old town is highly recommended: the historic centre is characterised by the impressive Baroque parish church of St. Martin, the town hall, and the pharmacy with its striking portal.

Distance: approx. 27 kilometres

Day 3
Hartberg (359 m) – Vorau (660 m) Today’s destination, Vorau with its beautiful abbey, is already located in the Joglland. First, however, we leave the charming town of Hartberg with its vineyards to the west behind us and continue through scenic forests and small-scale landscapes, gradually ascending towards the Masenberg, which we bypass to the north-east. Soon, the imposing abbey comes into view.

Distance: approx. 24 kilometres

Day 4
Vorau (660 m) – Wenigzell (831 m) – St. Jakob im Walde (913 m) – Ratten (765 m)
From Vorau, the route continues to Wenigzell, an idyllic village in the heart of the Joglland. In the lovingly designed barefoot park, we can give our feet a well-deserved break. The path then leads us on to the romantic village of Ratten in the Feistritz valley, located in Peter Rosegger’s Waldheimat.

Distance: approx. 25 kilometres

Day 5
Ratten (765 m) – Rosegger's Birthplace (1,144 m) – Krieglach (608 m)

From Ratten, we continue through the homeland of Peter Rosegger, the Waldheimat, where we join the Styrian Mariazell Pilgrimage Route. On this stage, every step is a pleasure – meadows, pastures, and forests as far as the eye can see. After visiting the birthplace, the route continues via the Hochgölk, with its beautiful Gölkkapelle, descending into the Mürz valley to Krieglach.

Distance: approx. 24 kilometres

Day 6
Krieglach (608 m) – Veitschbachtörl (1,406 m) – Schoberstein (1,510 m) – Mürzsteg (782 m)

From Krieglach, the route leads via the Veitschbachtörl and the Schoberstein – at 1,510 metres the highest point of this stage – before descending to Mürzsteg, the final stop before reaching our destination, Mariazell.

Details on Day 6 stage

Day 7
Mürzsteg (782 m) – Buchalpenkreuz (1,402 m) – Schöneben (1,099 m) – Mooshuben (891 m) – Mariazell (868 m)

The final stage takes us from Mürzsteg to the Buchalpenkreuz, the last major ascent of the Mariazell pilgrimage route. Via Schöneben and Mooshuben, we arrive in Mariazell after ten demanding yet rewarding days of hiking.

Details on Day 7 stage

Cycling Pilgrimage in the Hochsteiermark
Cycling pilgrimage combines cycling, experiencing nature, and inner reflection. Across four routes leading to Mariazell, the focus is not on speed, but on mindful travel — with time for breaks, encounters, and personal thoughts. The combination of movement, landscape, and spiritual places makes a cycling pilgrimage to Mariazell a truly special journey: being on the move while, at the same time, arriving within oneself.

Accessible by train and bus: detailed information about arriving by ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways) can be found at www.oebb.at or on the Verbundlinie Steiermark website www.busbahnbim.at

With Verbundlinie’s BusBahnBim route planner app, planning your journey has never been easier: simply enter towns and/or addresses, stop names or points of interest to check all bus, train and tram connections in Austria. The app is available free of charge for smartphones – on Google Play and in the App Store

Numerous parking spaces are available in Heiligenbrunn and Hagensdorf.

TVB Oststeiermark, Tel. +43 3335 47147
www.oststeiermark.com

TVB Hochsteiermark, Tel. +43 3862 55020
www.hochsteiermark.at

Steiermark Tourismus, Tel. +43 316 4003
www.steiermark.com