Wine educational trail WL

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty easy

Route 3,5 km

Time 1:45 h

Uphill 150 hm

Downhill 150 hm

Highest point 520 m

Explore the unique home of Schilcher. On this tour, you’ll learn everything you need to know about this distinctive wine featuring a white horse on the label.

What could be better than learning everything there is to know about viticulture? That’s right – tasting the wine at the same time. This wonderful walk offers both. The route takes you through the lovingly tended vineyards, which exude a special charm in every season, all the way up to Deutschlandsberg Castle. Spring, when the vines are in bloom, or autumn, when the grapes are ripe, are probably the best times of year for this hike. Once at the top, you can enjoy the beautiful view over the entire region and its vineyards. The numerous wine taverns and restaurants in the area also ensure pure enjoyment. Whether it’s a crisp salad with wonderfully fragrant pumpkin seed oil or a hearty platter of cold cuts – enjoyment is a top priority here in one of the most beautiful spots in Styria. The significance of viticulture here also becomes clear at the Urbanik Chapel, as it is dedicated to Saint Urban – the patron saint of winegrowers.

Best season

January

February

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More information

Coming from Graz via the A9, take the A2 towards Klagenfurt at the Graz-West motorway junction. Take the Lieboch exit and follow the B76 towards Lannach – Deutschlandsberg.

With a distance of a good three kilometres, this hike is also well suited for children. As you start directly in front of the Schilcherland tourist office, it is essential that you get all the important first-hand information about this beautiful region and also get lots of tips about the numerous hiking opportunities through the home of the Schilcher.

Off you go in the direction of Deutschlandsberg Castle. Walk through the beautiful large avenue of trees to the railway tracks and cross them. Now walk along Klöpferweg, named after a local poet, and then turn left into Kapellenweg. The path leads you past the JUFA Hotel, which has its own bowling alley, inviting you to a fun round.

You will then reach the educational wine trail. Once in nature, you follow the Jakobiweg and while climbing the steps, you also take the time to examine the grapes along our path. These grapes are various fungus-resistant table grapes, so they are not sprayed and are there for the walkers to taste.

This gives you the necessary energy to easily manage the last steep metres up to Deutschlandsberg Castle. At the top you will be rewarded with the magnificent view over the surrounding countryside of Deutschlandsberg and the wonderful upscale cuisine of the castle restaurant. The interesting castle museum is now also waiting for you to visit.

Continue in the direction of Schlossweg to Gasthof Stöcklpeter, where typical delicacies await you. There you will find the Urbani Chapel, dedicated to the patron saint of winegrowers, St. Urban. Along the castle path, local noble grape varieties are described again and again. First and foremost the Blaue Wildbacher vine, from which the famous rosé-coloured Schilcher, the eponym of our region Schilcherland, is pressed. This type of vinification is unique in the world. Schilcher can only be found in Western Styria. The wine smells of strawberries and its crisp acidity makes it wonderfully refreshing.

The trail takes you past many different Buschenschänken and gastronomic establishments. Here you can taste numerous wines or make yourself comfortable in one of the many parlours. Also taste the homemade desserts, you won't regret it.

After the wine trail, turn right at the Schiller monument in the Stiftungspark. Follow the path downhill until you reach the Klöpferweg again. Keep left here and follow the Klöpferweg to the railway crossing. Then turn right into Ringweg. Walk up this path until an asphalt path branches off to the left to Schulgasse. Cross the Schulgasse and walk through the Straschek installation company to reach the starting point in the centre again.

Now you will not only feel good after the hike, you will hopefully have enjoyed the delicacies of the region and learned everything worth knowing about viticulture in Western Styria along the way. Why not take a few bottles home with you? A glass of wine will bring back memories of this beautiful hiking day in the home of the Schilcher.

As well as a museum, Deutschlandsberg Castle offers a unique view from the tower room.

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 Deutschlandsberg.

Parking is free at the Koralmhalle.

Information office:

South Styria Tourist Association, Tel.: +43 (5) 7730, 8530 Deutschlandsberg, Hauptplatz 40

www.suedsteiermark.com