St. Nikolai circular hiking trail no. 5

Accessible by public transport

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty easy

Route 5,3 km

Time 2:00 h

Uphill 150 hm

Downhill 150 hm

Highest point 514 m

A varied day trip with magnificent viewpoints and numerous places to stop for refreshments.

A picturesque journey begins at the municipal office in St. Nikolai im Sausal. The trail leads uphill towards Nikolaiberg, where the Waldschacher Chapel offers breathtaking views. Continue downhill to Waldschach Castle and the Waldschacher Lakes. Walk along the lake to the village of Lamperstätten. Pass the chapel and walk a short distance along the country road, then turn left through the Laßnitz Valley to Grötsch. Walk uphill to Spiegelkogel and the Harkamp wine hotel, then follow the Flamberger Kamm ridge to Flamhof Castle. Take the forest paths to Unterjahring, then walk downhill again to the Strauß wine tavern in Petzles and past the Riedl wine tavern to the Hubertus Chapel. After a short detour to the Wellinggraben, you will come uphill to the Pichler-Schober winery and the Höfer wine tavern. Follow the signs and after about 1 km the path leads downhill to the right through beautiful mixed forests via Greith back to the starting point.

Best season

January

February

March

April

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June

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November

December

More information

Coming from Graz via the A9, take the Leibnitz exit. Follow the B74 to Kaindorf a. d. Sulm – Muggenau junction – St. Nikolai i. S.

From the municipal office in St. Nikolai im Sausal, walk in the direction of Nikolaiberg to the Waldschach Chapel, from where you have a wonderful view of the West Styrian mountain landscape. Head down the valley to Waldschach Castle and the Waldschach Lakes. Along the lake you reach the village of Lamperstätten. Past the chapel and after about 100 m on the country road, the trail branches off to the left. Through the Laßnitztal valley to Grötsch, past the chapel, head uphill to the Spiegelkogel to the Hakamp vineyard hotel. Along the Flamberger ridge the trail leads to Gasthof Haiden and on the right to Flamhof Castle, continue on forest paths to Unterjahring and after crossing the country road, the trail leads uphill after the sewage treatment plant to Buschenschank Strauß in Petzles. From here you pass the Buschenschenk Riedl and then continue to the Hubertus Chapel. At the chapel, turn left into the Wellinggraben. Then turn right again slightly uphill to the Buschenschank Pichler-Schober. Continue past vineyards to the Höfer wine tavern and uphill to the Steiri wine tavern. From here the trail leads downhill through beautiful mixed forests via Greith back to the starting point of the hike.

Take advantage of this opportunity and book a tasting at the Flamberger Beer Brewery or visit the Aeijst Distillery.

Many starting points for our hikes in southern Styria can also be reached by public transport.

For a relaxed and sustainable journey, we recommend travelling by bus and train wherever possible.

Depending on the region, additional local transport options are available.

This allows you to start your tour stress-free while also contributing to climate and nature conservation.

All information on public transport, local mobility services and timetables can be found at: www.suedsteiermark.com/arrival

The nearest railway station is in Leibnitz.

Parking spaces are available in front of the municipal office.

Tourist office
Kitzeck Tel.: +43 (5) 7730 310, 8442 Kitzeck
South Styria Tourist Association, Tel.: +43 (5) 7730, 8530 Deutschlandsberg, Hauptplatz 40
www.suedsteiermark.com