Hiking route circular route "St. Stefan greets Stainz" - Touren-Impression #1 | © TVB Südsteiermark/Foto Augenblick Hiking route circular route "St. Stefan greets Stainz" - Touren-Impression #1 | © TVB Südsteiermark/Foto Augenblick

circular route "St. Stefan greets Stainz"

St. Stefan greets Stainz St. Stefan and Stainz are connected by winegrowing and where wine is grown, people have a cheerful disposition. Feel at home in one of the most beautiful places in Styria.
This circular trail truly has a lot to offer nature lovers. Wonderful views over the vineyards around St. Stefan await you. You will pass the Franzosenkreuz, which makes a great photo motif, and hike along the natural Lemsitzbach stream.

Take the opportunity here to cool your tired legs in the cool water and gather new freshness for your hike. Absolute highlights of the tour are the magnificent distant views and the view of Stainz Castle, resplendent in yellow. The Styrian Archduke Johann said of the castle in his time: "It is hard to think of anything more beautiful, turn your eyes wherever you like; the garden is everywhere." Today the castle is owned by the Counts of Meran.

Just enjoy this circular route between the two wine villages of St. Stefan and Stainz. Schilcher is the defining grape variety of this region. Take your time and taste this special wine of Western Styria, which proudly bears the White Horse as a sign on the bottle.

Characteristics

Skill
Fitness

Best season

January
February
December

The tour in numbers

8,8 km
Route
2:30 h
Time
65 hm
Uphill
65 hm
Downhill
405 m
Highest point

Map & downloads

More information

Plan your journey via Google Maps to the starting point of the tour: www.google.at/maps

From the north: Motorway Munich - Salzburg - Eben - Schladming - Liezen onto the A9 towards Graz. Exit at Lieboch and follow the B76 towards Deutschlandsberg/Stainz. A9 is subject to toll - Gleinalmtunnel. Alternative: At St. Michael take the S6 towards Bruck and in Bruck take the S35 towards Graz. On the B76 in Schlieb turn right to St. Stefan ob Stainz until the next crossroads, turn left here after approx. 1.5km the car park is on the left.

From the west: In Villach take the A2 towards Klagenfurt. Take the Steinberg exit and drive in the direction of Stainz. In the village of St. Stefan ob Stainz turn left at the Stiegler Haus crossroads and after 50m you will find the car park on the right-hand side.

From the east: A2: Vienna - Aspang - Hartberg - Fürstenfeld - Graz. From Graz continue on the A2 in the direction of Klagenfurt and take the Lieboch exit in the direction of Stainz/Deutschlandsberg/Eibiswald. Follow the B76 to Deutschlandsberg/Stainz. On the B76 in Schlieb turn right to St. Stefan ob Stainz until the next crossroads, here turn left after approx. 1.5km the car park is on the left.

From the south: A 1 from Marburg to Leibnitz. Exit in Leibnitz (Gralla) and continue on the B74 in the direction of Deutschlandsberg, take the second exit at the roundabout in Preding, after approx. 2km turn right onto the L617 in the direction of Stainz. In Stainz, drive through the town centre in the direction of Graz, and at the Spar-Markt crossroads turn left into St. Stefan. In the village of St. Stefan in the 30 km zone on the priority road at the church, cross the intersection and after 50 m you will have reached the car park on the right-hand side.

After the starting point of the tour is the Schilcherland car park in St. Stefan ob Stainz, you have the opportunity to stock up on provisions for your hike and to fortify yourself with regional delicacies. Full of energy, you start on the pavement along the main road in the direction of Stainz. A varied loop awaits you on a route of 8.7 kilometres, which will take you about two and a half hours.

At the fire station, turn off to the south and hike up a hilltop. Here in the district of Lichtenhof, a wonderful view over the hilly landscape of western Styria awaits you. Especially on a sunny autumn day, the Schilcher vineyards shine in bright colours from yellow to dark red. Sit down in the grass and enjoy this magical moment.

After you can tear yourself away from the sight, continue along a quiet road through a settlement. After a few metres, you will catch sight of a farm specialising in cattle farming on your left. Take your time and watch the cows graze, the typical sound they make is extremely soothing.

Now continue along a gravelled forest path. The light of the sun penetrating through the dense leaves draws beautiful patterns on the forest floor. The children can have a battle with the leaves lying on the ground or play a round of hide and seek. An unforgettable holiday experience for the little ones.

After a while you come to a fork in the path where you turn right. Now it is not far to the Franzosenkreuz. On the plaque of the cross you will find the following inscription: "Far from their dear loved ones, 3 Frenchmen died here, beaten by the peasants, and buried here by theirs. The peasants fought with heroism, for the country and for their property." There is a beautiful cross at the side of the path, modernly designed since 2009, to commemorate the French War around 1809.

From there you continue through forest and flowering meadows, past the Lady Chapel in Pichling and slightly downhill to the country road. In the centre of the chapel's altar table is a 75-centimetre statuette of a Lourdes Madonna, with representations of Saints Anthony and Joseph, both with the infant Jesus, on either side.

After you have crossed the country road, you walk energetically in the direction of the Lemsitzbach stream. You have the opportunity to refresh yourself in the cool water. From here you can already see the beautiful, yellow-coloured Stainz Castle. You can reach it after a ten-minute walk. The castle houses a hunting and agricultural museum. You should definitely visit it.

The last two kilometres of this wonderful hike are a real insider tip. The unpaved path follows the meandering Lemsitzbach stream and is truly idyllic with its natural trees and shrubs. You will reach St. Stefan again via a bridge, a little-used asphalt road and a quiet meadow section.

Let this hiking day come to an end in one of the numerous wine taverns in the village. You have truly earned a hearty snack with regional delicacies.

French Cross: The modern French Cross commemorates the French War of 1809. Local farmers buried fallen Frenchmen here.
You can find timetables and travel information directly at

With the BusBahnBim app of the Verbundlinie, timetable information is easier than ever: all connections by bus, train and tram in Austria can be retrieved by entering places and/or addresses, stops or important points. The app is available as a free app for smartphones (Android, iOS) - on Google Play and in the App Store.

Schilcherland car park in St. Stefan ob Stainz 
Tourism Association Schilcherland Styria

Hauptplatz 40

A-8530 Deutschlandsberg

Tel +43 3462 7520

office@schilcherland.at  

www.schilcherland.at  

The hiking folder and the district-wide hiking map of Deutschlandsberg can be ordered free of charge online at www.schilcherland.at. ONLINE TOURS APP

All hiking tours can be found online at www.schilcherland.at/bewegung or via APP South & West Styria Tours in their app store.

Gallery

What the weather will be like

St. Stefan ob Stainz (401m)

Morning
very sunny
-7°C
0%
0 km/h
Noon
very sunny
5°C
0%
5 km/h
Night
very sunny
-2°C
0%
0 km/h
Dry and sunny throughout the day with hardly any clouds.
Morning
sunny
-5°C
0%
0 km/h
Noon
sunny
4°C
0%
5 km/h
Night
very sunny
-2°C
0%
0 km/h
Early clouds will clear to leave the region with a dry and sunny day.
29.12.2024
very sunny
-6°C 5°C
30.12.2024
very sunny
-6°C 5°C
31.12.2024
very sunny
-6°C 5°C

Nearby accommodation options

Continue to search

You may also be interested in

Recommended tours

Vineyard Langegg | Stefanie Schmid | © Schilcherland Steiermark
Greisdorf easy
Route 12,8 km
Duration 4:00 h

Big St. Stefan Round Walk

Hiking on the way to the vineyard | Markus Trinkel | © TVB Südsteiermark/Markus Trinkel
Greisdorf easy
Route 10,8 km
Duration 3:30 h

Vineyard adventure trail

Zachgraben - Keltischer Baumkreis | Gemeinde Gundersdorf | © TVB Südsteiermark/Gde Gundersdorf
Greisdorf easy
Route 8,3 km
Duration 3:30 h

Keltischer Baumkreis-Rundweg (S13)

Schilling Kreuz | Anton Albrecher | © TVB Südsteiermark/Anton Albrecher
Georgsberg easy
Route 8,9 km
Duration 3:00 h

Absetzwirt hike around the Rosenkogel

Mooskirchner Materl | Marktgemeinde Mooskirchen | © Marktgemeinde Mooskirchen
Mooskirchen
Route 3,2 km
Duration 1:30 h

Wanderung Kniezenberg

Klapotetz | Weges | © TV Südsteiermark - WEGES
Bad Gams
Route 9,8 km
Duration 3:00 h

Schilcherkeller Rundweg