Discover Wies: Churches, Trails and Regional Specialties

Wies appeals to travelers who want to combine sacred architecture, historical traces, themed trails and regional specialties. Between churches, chapels, mining history and distinctive rock formations, there are many different ways to spend a day on holiday. When looking for a holiday apartment in Wies, you can therefore consider whether culture, outdoor activities, regional discoveries or a combination of several focuses is most important to you.

Discover Churches and History in Wies

One major cultural attraction is Wies Church. It was built from 1774 to 1782 for the statue of grace of the “Flagellated Savior of Wies.” The church is the work of Marburg architect Johann Fuchs and features classical elements. Traditional groups continue to make pilgrimages to the parish church of the “Flagellated Savior of Wies.” Its architectural history is therefore connected with a religious tradition that is still maintained today.

There are also sacred and historical themes beyond this church. The Emmaus Chapel in Wernersdorf serves as a venue for Holy Masses, devotions, weddings and baptisms. Every Easter Monday, it is the destination of the Emmaus Walk, an early-morning pilgrimage from surrounding parishes. Burgstall Castle is part of the protected zone encompassing the historic center of Wies. In Altenmarkt, the renovated St. Vitus Chapel is a focal point of the themed hiking trail “Chapels Trail.” During its restoration, an almost fully intact area of Gothic frescoes from around 1400, covering 127 m², was uncovered.

Adventure Trails with Clearly Defined Stops

Those who prefer to combine historical themes with a trail will find an informative focus at the Limberg Adventure Mining Museum. The museum is located directly on the “Mining Museum Trail.” Visitors can operate a miner’s drilling machine at the push of a button and replicate the shovel movement of a mine worker. Visits are possible by telephone appointment. This information should therefore be included in your day’s planning before you firmly schedule the museum visit.

The “Hans Kloepfer Trail” leads to Sankt Katharina in der Wiel. There, visitors can see the “Captured Russian” and the parish church. The small parish church was built as early as the 15th century; its furnishings probably date from the 17th or 18th century. A trip with varied interests can thus combine literary-themed destinations, sacred buildings and regional history, without every day of the holiday having to be the same.

Rocks, Views and Regional Specialties

The Wielfresen Rock World presents 20 partly multi-ton rock blocks and slabs. Most have been cut and their surfaces polished so that the inside of the rocks is visible. The Rock World is integrated into the network of the tourism- and earth-science-oriented Koralm Crystal Trail. The Hohl-Felsen Geotrail in Unterfresen is considered one of Austria’s most beautiful eclogite deposits. Limberg Castle has been well preserved through renovation and stands on a small hill overlooking southwestern Styria.

For culinary discoveries, the Kronabeter Farm Cheese Dairy at Krass 109, 8551 Wies is a good choice. The cheese hut, open around the clock, offers regional cheese specialties and farm products directly from the farm. Tastings and individually arranged cheese platters are also available. The Experimental Station for Special Crops presents changing annual trials, which can be visited from early May to the end of September, Monday to Friday. The grounds include a garden with 160 small plots where visitors can see, smell and taste vegetables, pumpkins, flowers and herbs. The Distilling Equipment Museum is housed in an old cellar building dating from 1865 and explains the historical development of schnapps distilling from antiquity to the present day.

The Right Accommodation for Your Travel Plans

It is best to organize your destinations according to the pace of holiday you want. Culture enthusiasts can focus on Wies Church, chapels, frescoes and historic buildings. Those who enjoy being active can add the “Mining Museum Trail,” the “Hans Kloepfer Trail” or geoscientific stations to their plans. For enjoyable days, the cheese hut, tastings and the special crops are ideal options. If a museum visit is planned, remember to make an appointment by telephone.

More Places to Consider

For further travel planning, you can also view the town pages for Stainz, Breitenbach in der Weststeiermark, Mainsdorf, Sankt Martin Im Sulmtal, Pölfing-Brunn, Wielfresen, Hörmsdorf and Lemsitz.

For the overarching travel overview: Deutschlandsberg.