large raab gorge, Mortantsch
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Main route through the longest gorge in Austria (Natura 2000 protected area).
The great Raabklamm gorge is a breath-taking hiker's paradise and at the same time habitat for numerous rare animal and plant species. On hot summer days, the Raab provides cooling with its fresh, clear mountain water.
The Great Raab Gorge with a length of about 10 kilometers was declared a nature reserve in 1970 and is now part of the NATURA 2000 network of the EU. While the southern part of the gorge captivates with its gloomy, fairy-tale atmosphere, the bizarre rock formations of the northern limestone part bear witness to the constant work of natural forces and give the gorge a wildly romantic character. Along rugged rock faces, beautiful gray alder meadows and accompanied by the rushing waters of the Raab River, you can hike and enjoy this pristine natural paradise on well secured and marked paths and footbridges. All junctions and paths are very well signposted and there are parking facilities for cars and buses at all entry points.
Characteristics
The tour in numbers
medium
Level of difficulty
More information
The district capital of Weiz is located in eastern Styria and is very easy to reach via the A2 motorway from Vienna (approx. 1.5 h) and Graz (approx. 30 min).
- Arrival from Vienna and from Graz:
On the A2 coming from Vienna and from Graz, take motorway exit 161 / Gleisdorf West in the direction of B54/B64. Follow the B65 / Gleisdorfer Bundesstraße until you reach the B54 / Wechselbundesstraße. At the roundabout, take the second exit north to the B64 / Rechberg-Bundesstraße. After approx. 15 km you will reach the city of Weiz. From Weizer Hauplatz drive 5km westwards on Grazer Straße in the direction of Gutenberg.
Route planner
- The main route no. 765 leads well-marked from the still-gelled Jägerwirt inn in the municipality of Mortantsch to Arzberg in the market town of Passail.
- From the Jägerwirt, we march past the Hofleitensteg in a northerly direction. Shortly afterwards, we pass the Energie Steiermark power station and can see Gutenberg Castle towering high above the Raab River in a westerly direction.
- We leave the Buchbauersteg on the left again and continue to the weir, where we cross the Raab for the first time. Now continue along the left side of the Raab.
- Leave the next footbridge (Haselbachsteg) on the right and cross the river again at the Lehbauersteg.
- This is followed by a fairly leisurely section that takes us further north, past the Weizerbrücke bridge and the Naasersteg bridge. At the Schreisteg we change the bank of the Raab for a third time.
- From there we reach the tour destination in Arzberg in about 20 minutes walking time.
Pack a picnic basket and linger at one of the great spots along the Raab and enjoy nature. "Pack your swimming trunks..." on hot days there are plenty of places to cool off.
Free parking at the GH Jägerwirt.
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Raabklamm Haselbachsteg, Eastern Styria | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | xSimon Sackl
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Great Raab Gorge, Eastern Styria | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | xSimon Sackl
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Great Raab Gorge, Eastern Styria | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | Axel Dobrowolny
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Great Raab Gorge, Eastern Styria | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | Axel Dobrowolny
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Great Raab Gorge, Eastern Styria | © (c) Günther Steininger | (c) Günther Steininger
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Great Raab Gorge, Eastern Styria | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | xSimon Sackl
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Great Raab Gorge, Eastern Styria | © Oststeiermark Tourismus
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Great Raab Gorge, Eastern Styria | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | Axel Dobrowolny
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Great Raab Gorge, Eastern Styria | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | Axel Dobrowolny
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Tourism Region Weiz, Eastern Styria | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | Therese Raser
What the weather will be like
Passail (653m)
Dry and bright with plenty of sunshine, clouds will be rare.
Dry and sunny throughout the day with hardly any clouds.
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