Stage 19 From Glacier to Wine South Route Deutschlandsberg - Bad Schwanberg

Accessible by public transport

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

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty easy

Route 10,8 km

Time 4:00 h

Uphill 388 hm

Downhill 356 hm

Highest point 766 m

On this stage of the Hiking Trail From Glacier to Wine, we hike through the Schilcherland, where we may occasionally encounter pilgrims travelling in the opposite direction.They are following the Mariazell Trail, one of the most renowned pilgrimage routes in the Alpine region. For centuries, pilgrims have walked this historic route towards Mariazell, Central Europe's most important pilgrimage destination dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The encounter between long-distance hikers and pilgrims gives this stage a special atmosphere, where the cultural and spiritual heritage of the region blends seamlessly with the landscapes of the Styrian wine country.

In addition to Schilcher, the distinctive rosé wine made from the Blauer Wildbacher grape and protected by designation of origin, hikers encounter another natural treasure on this stage. As Schilcher can only be produced in Steiermark, it has become one of the region's most recognisable specialities. Another remarkable gift of nature comes from Austria's highest raised bog, situated at more than 1,300 metres above sea level on the Koralm. This is the source of the therapeutic peat used at the Schwanberg Moor Spa. Over thousands of years, the dense network of roots within the bog prevented water from draining away, allowing organic material to accumulate continuously. As a result, the Garanaser Moor has grown to an impressive depth of around six metres over the course of approximately 6,000 years. During this long period, countless medicinal herbs, seeds, pollen, and flowers were preserved within the peat layers. These natural ingredients form the basis of the therapeutic properties for which the moor is valued today.

Best season

January

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More information

Detailed information on how to get to Deutschlandsberg can be found here.

From Deutschlandsberg, the route initially leads gently uphill through vineyards that extend right to the edge of the town towards the Wolfgangi Church, where a beautiful panorama of the Schilcherland unfolds.

Shortly after the small pilgrimage church, we keep left at the Alpengasthaus Gregorhansl (Tel. +43 3462 2610) and continue southwards along the Mariazell Trail, walking in the opposite direction to the pilgrims making their way towards northern Steiermark.

The route then follows the vicinity of the Schilcher Wine Road, passing through peaceful forests, across meadows and fields, and by several traditional Buschenschänken, many of which offer an ideal opportunity to sample regional specialities and local wines.

The remainder of this stage of the Hiking Trail From Glacier to Wine descends steadily towards Bad Schwanberg. At the level of the Stegweber Inn and the Grünberg Volunteer Fire Brigade, the route leaves the Mariazell Trail and turns onto Mainsdorfer Straße, continuing straight ahead into the centre of Schwanberg.

The market town offers a number of cultural attractions, including the Capuchin Monastery, Schwanberg Castle, and the Greißlerei Museum. Another special highlight awaits in Eibiswald, the destination of the following stage, where the Austrian Alpine Club Long-Distance Hiking Museum is dedicated to the history and culture of long-distance hiking.

In the Thermen- & Vulkanland region of Styria, Eastern Styria and Southern and Western Styria, the GenussCard opens the door to over 200 excursion destinations when you stay overnight in one of the approximately 100 GenussCard partner establishments. Countless of these GenussCard excursion destinations, ranging from culinary manufactories to bathing lakes and museums, are located directly on the hiking route "From Glacier to Wine".

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 the Obere Schmiedgasse behind the town hall.

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

Kompass WK 224 Steirisches Weinland- Stainz, Sausal, Sulmtal, Leibnitz www.kompass.at

Freytag & Berndt WK 411 Steirisches Weinland · Südwest Steiermark www.freytagberndt.at