Discover Graz-Umgebung

Graz-Umgebung combines the recreational area of the city of Graz with a diverse landscape of high plateaus, mountains, caves, waterfalls and cultural destinations steeped in history. The region is part of the “Region Graz” tourism association, which comprises 32 municipalities in Graz (city), Graz-Umgebung and Voitsberg. When choosing your holiday apartment or holiday home, it is therefore worth first considering which focus should define your trip: extensive routes, natural landmarks, museums, monastic culture or special excursion destinations.

Schöckl area, Semriach and impressive natural attractions

The Schöckl area offers a total of 40 kilometres of hiking and walking routes. Geologically, Schöckl is a limestone massif on crystalline bedrock, shaping a landscape that is suitable both for leisurely walks and for longer tours as an interesting destination. A special activity is the Hexenexpress: The 1,000-metre-long summer toboggan run leads from the mountain station of the cable car down to the Halterhütte.

Semriach is situated on a high plateau in the Hügel- & Schöcklland region. The municipality includes five mountains over 1,000 metres high: Schöckl at 1,445 metres, Fragnerberg at 1,109 metres, Rinnweberkogel at 1,041 metres, Hochtrötsch at 1,239 metres and Windhofkogel at 1,064 metres.

Kesselfallklamm is a protected natural landmark. Its longest waterfall plunges 38 metres down over several steps and pools. The Lurgrotte Peggau opens up a different natural setting and is Austria’s largest show cave through which water flows. The Lurgrotte can be explored starting from Peggau or Semriach and is visited accompanied by expert guides. In addition, the Lurgrotten Tour 739 is a scenic e-bike tour from Peggau to the Semriach high plateau, with a focus on the Lurgrotte.

Museums, monasteries and routes with a history of their own

The Austrian Open-Air Museum Stübing is located directly on the Mur cycle path and comprises more than 100 historic buildings. It is one of the ten largest museums of its kind in Europe. The GU1101 collection stop is also located at the museum. This makes it possible to incorporate a visit to the extensive museum into your personal daily plans without having to combine it with other destinations in the region.

Rein Abbey was founded in 1129 and is considered the oldest Cistercian monastery in the world. The historic monastery grounds and church are open to visitors at all times; the monastery rooms, library and exhibition can be visited as part of daily guided tours. The abbey forests invite visitors to enjoy extended walks and hikes. For those interested in culture, the pilgrimage church of Maria Strassengel adds another attraction: It houses the largest collection of medieval stained-glass windows in Styria.

In Thal, the Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum uses numerous exhibits to document Arnold Schwarzenegger’s childhood and youth in Thal, his time as a bodybuilder, his film career and his time as governor. The Arnold Schwarzenegger hiking trail starts and ends directly at the museum and runs for 7.3 kilometres through Thal. The West Styrian Way of St. James also begins in Thal and leads to Lavamünd in eight stages. Depending on your travel plans, you can make a museum visit, a shorter circular route or a multi-day walking idea the focus of your trip.

Further excursion destinations between lakes, castles and sculptures

Lake Thalersee is a meeting place for Nordic walking, hiking, running, ice skating, cross-country skiing and curling. Access to Rabenstein Castle is via the Atlantis shuttle, which offers views of the surrounding area. The castle is available as an event centre all year round; art, cultural and craft exhibitions invite visitors to discover the castle from the inside.

The Austrian Sculpture Park features landscape architecture designed by Dieter Kienast, with geometric formations, a water-lily and lotus pond, and a plant labyrinth. It opened on the grounds of the International Horticultural Exhibition 2000. In addition to mountains, caves and historic buildings, Graz-Umgebung therefore also offers a place where art and designed landscapes can be viewed together.

Choose suitable accommodation based on your travel plans

Graz-Umgebung is suitable for a variety of travel plans, without all destinations having to be of the same character. If you are primarily looking for hiking and nature experiences, the Schöckl area, Semriach, Kesselfallklamm and Lurgrotte can form the main focus. For culture-oriented days, Stübing, Rein Abbey, Maria Strassengel, the Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum and Rabenstein Castle are available to choose from. Those who want to combine different interests can use their preferred daily rhythm and excursion destinations as a guide when searching for a holiday apartment or holiday home. You should then check the specific distances and offers to ensure they suit your own travel plans.

Places for further selection

If you would like to focus your search on individual places, the following location pages are available: Kleinstübing, Hausmannstätten, Attendorf, Hart, Deutschfeistritz, Kalsdorf Bei Graz, Fernitz Bei Graz, Graz, Kumberg, Gschnaidt, Frohnleiten, Gratkorn, Edelsbach Bei Graz, Semriach, Thondorf, Sankt Radegund Bei Graz, Nestelbach Bei Graz, Sankt Peter, Unterfriesach, Sankt Marein Bei Graz, Mühlriegel, Mantscha, Feldkirchen Bei Graz, Fölling, Rein, Lieboch, Übelbach, Seiersberg, Hönigtal, Dobl, Neudorf, Sankt Bartholomä, Neureiteregg, Wundschuh, Premstätten, Gemeinde Gratwein, Tobelbad, Raaba, Taschen, Laßnitzhöhe.

To the overarching travel overview: Styria.