Mariazell Pilgrimage Route – Connection from Slovenia via Mureck

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 medium

Route 81,1 km

Time 27:00 h

Uphill 1093 hm

Downhill 976 hm

Highest point 463 m

Pilgrimage can mean a connection to religion for us, or simply a relaxed walk in search of inner peace. Either way, we will savour the quiet moments along the path to Mariazell. This time, our route is part of long-distance trail 06 and joins the main Mariazell Pilgrimage Route near Graz, which leads from Soboth via Graz and the Almenland Nature Park all the way to the legendary basilica. We start in Mureck.

Perhaps, however, our journey began earlier in Maria Bistrica, already carrying us—rich with impressions—across Slovenia and Croatia.

The idea of pilgrimage — a journey into the self—is as old as humanity’s desire for purity and well-being. While some terms may have changed over the centuries, the core idea has remained the same.

So even if your main aim is simply to enjoy a healthy holiday far removed from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, while experiencing some truly outstanding cultural highlights—you are still “on the right path”: from Eibiswald to Mariazell.

Because one thing is as certain as the fact that the heart of Steiermark is green: inner reflection and the renewal of body and soul come naturally when you set out on a pilgrimage.

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

More information

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

In Mureck, we are welcomed by a meaningful wayside shrine at the border: inaugurated in 1968, it was intended as a reminder that there should never be war again. Two girls—one from Mureck and the other from Pettau—symbolise the wish for peace to be carried across borders. On the main square of Mureck, we are then greeted by the sight of the Marian column, erected in 1665 in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Mureck itself is nestled in the unspoilt nature of the Mur floodplains and is a charming little border town. With a bit of planning, we might also find time to visit the town museum, where the room of the well-known Mureck poet Julius Franz Schütz has been preserved in its original form. The route continues partly through the Thermen- & Vulkanland and partly through Southern Styria before reaching the provincial capital.

The stretch via Weitersfeld, St. Nikolai ob Draßing, Wolfsberg, Allerheiligen bei Wildon, and Fernitz is particularly beautiful. After all, the first part of our journey towards Mariazell leads through the Südsteiermark: vineyards, gentle hills, charming and romantic Buschenschanken, and wonderful views across the landscape—and at the beginning, even into the neighbouring country.

St. Nikolai ob Draßing is considered a place of well-being, and before reaching Allerheiligen bei Wildon, we should definitely visit the beautiful church in Glojach. There are also sights worth seeing in Fernitz: the Mariatrost church here is a splendid late-Gothic building.

Approaching Graz from the south, we join the well-known and popular Mur cycle path to enter the provincial capital. Graz—the city of indulgence, culture, art, and red rooftops—is worth a visit in its own right. It is also a city of Marian churches, such as the Mariahilferkirche, near which lies the junction connecting to the main Mariazell Pilgrimage Route.

Simply put: let us enjoy Graz before continuing on—towards Mariazell.

Day 1
Mureck (237 m) – St. Nikolai ob Draßling (333 m) – Wolfsberg im Schwarzautal (304 m)

This stage takes us from Mureck to Wolfsberg. Along the way, we pass through the charming villages of Weitersfeld and St. Nikolai before reaching Wolfsberg at the end of the day.

Distance: approx. 29 kilometres

Day 2
Wolfsberg im Schwarzautal (304 m) – Glojach Chapel (468 m) – Kirchbach (334 m) – St. Ulrich am Waasen (380 m)

We continue from Wolfsberg towards Graz. Today, we move from the Südsteiermark into the Vulkanland with all its distinctive beauty, before our journey leads us on to St. Ulrich am Waasen.

Distance: approx. 32 kilometres

Day 3
St. Ulrich am Waasen (380 m) – Fernitz (321 m) – Graz (353 m)

Starting in St. Ulrich, we reach a junction after about 2 km that leads to the Haus der Stille. From there, we continue via Fernitz to Graz, where we join the Mur cycle path. This route, far from traffic, takes us directly into the city centre—on our right the Mur, on our left its floodplains. Graz welcomes us with its many sights and culinary highlights—a perfect place to recharge before continuing the journey to Mariazell.

Distance: approx. 19 kilometres

Further route details can be found here.

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

Several parking spaces are available in Mureck.

TVB Thermen- & Vulkanland, Tel +43 3382 55100
www.thermen-vulkanland.at

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