Stage 12 From Glacier to Wine South Route St. Lambrecht - Neumarkt

Accessible by public transport

Public bus (within 15 minutes walking distance from starting point)

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty medium

Route 21,0 km

Time 7:30 h

Uphill 883 hm

Downhill 1072 hm

Highest point 1866 m

A scenic stage of the Hiking Trail From Glacier to Wine through the Zirbitzkogel-Grebenzen Nature Park. This route crosses the Grebenzen, one of the two defining mountains of the nature park, and follows a section of the Via Natura, a ten-stage long-distance hiking trail that traverses the region.

The stage leads from the spiritual heart of the nature park, St. Lambrecht, to its largest municipality, Neumarkt, with the district of St. Marein bei Neumarkt.

For thousands of years, people have regarded nature as a great book from which endless lessons can be learned. Yet in modern life, we often overlook the wisdom and insights that the natural world has to offer.

The Via Natura aims to reconnect people with nature and encourage a deeper understanding of the environment around them. Its guiding principle is "learning to read the great book of nature".

Designed for hikers of all ages and abilities, this long-distance trail offers a variety of experiences and perspectives. Along the route, visitors are encouraged to observe nature with all their senses, to interpret and understand what they see, and to discover the fascinating relationships that connect plants, animals, and their habitats.

In this way, the Via Natura invites hikers not only to explore the landscape, but also to gain a deeper appreciation of the natural world and the lessons it can teach us.

Best season

January

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More information

Detailed information on how to get to St. Lambrecht can be found here.

We begin in the centre of the village at the imposing Benedictine Abbey of St. Lambrecht. After a short and relatively level section leaving the village, the trail climbs steadily through the abbey forest along the Pfaffentritt, a historic path once used by the priests of the region, towards the Grebenzen.

After around 4 kilometres, we keep right at a junction and continue to the Dreiwiesenhütte (Tel. +43 3585 2411) at the foot of the Grebenzen summit. Together with the Zirbitzkogel, the Grebenzen is one of the most beautiful panoramic mountains in the Zirbitzkogel-Grebenzen Nature Park.

At the Dreiwiesenhütte, this stage of the Hiking Trail From Glacier to Wine turns sharply north and, after just under 2 kilometres, reaches the pilgrimage church Maria Schönanger and the nearby Schönangerhütte (Tel. +43 664 5393093). The present church building was erected in 1828 on the site of a chapel dating from 1736. Today, the pilgrimage church is a branch church of the Benedictine Abbey of St. Lambrecht and is served by its own pilgrimage chaplain.

From here, the trail turns sharply east and descends through the Kammerwald forest to Zeutschach, where a remarkable natural attraction awaits: the Zeutschach Spring, which is also one of the NaturLese Places along the Via Natura. This karst spring has a flow rate of approximately 90 to 120 litres per second. Its pure, oxygen-rich water supports a fascinating variety of aquatic plant life. Beneath the water surface grows the hairy-leaved buttercup, while the white blossoms of the water crowfoot float above the crystal-clear water.

Were it not for the birch tree, the benches, and the NaturLese Place marking its location, hikers could easily pass by this hidden gem without noticing it. Yet this tranquil spot is one of the most remarkable natural features of the Zirbitzkogel-Grebenzen Nature Park.

The final section of today's stage follows the Via Natura to the Grasluppteiche, a peaceful place to pause before entering the Graggerschlucht. Before reaching the gorge, however, a short woodland section leads to Zecki's Hütte (Tel. +43 664 75054977; please note the opening hours), a cosy hut near the Kaskadenfall waterfall.

To conclude the stage, the route passes through the wild and romantic gorge before reaching Europe's first Bionic Island, where visitors can discover how natural phenomena inspire technical innovation. The trail then continues to St. Marein bei Neumarkt, today's stage destination in the heart of the Zirbitzkogel-Grebenzen Nature Park.

The following stage leads to the Zirbitzkogel, the highest peak in the nature park.

Soft mobility is very important in the Nature Park Zirbitzkogel-Grebenzen. Thus, with the "Naturally Mobile Offer" Nature Park electric cars, electric bikes and the Nature Park hiking bus are available.

Tip: In the spring of 2018, in the course of a casting, a jury and the readers of a major Austrian daily newspaper chose Martina Traisch from the Ennstal and Manfred Polansky from the Mürztal 2 "super hikers" who hiked the north and south route in the summer. You can read about their experiences and adventures at www.steiermark.com/superwanderer: From ideal photo spots to hidden wine cellars in mountain huts. Do you want to follow in the footsteps of Martina and Manfred and also become a "super hiker"? It's very easy: Register at www.steiermark.com/superwanderer and then post your experiences, videos and comments along the hiking route "From Glacier to Wine" - regardless of whether you hike the entire route or just one section. Every 5 stages also beckons a small reward!

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

Parking is available in front of the St. Lambrecht monastery and at the valley station of the Grebenzen chairlift.

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

Kompass WK222 Sölktäler, Rottenmanner Tauern, Ennstal, Murau, Naturpark Grebenzen www.kompass.at

Freytag & Berndt WK211 Naturpark Zirbitzkogel ·Grebenzen · Murau · Sölkpass www.freytagberndt.at