Discover Gratkorn

Gratkorn combines the landscape of the Graz Hills with remarkable cultural sites, regional traditions and routes for hiking and cycling excursions. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Gratkorn can therefore plan their stay around different interests: the programme includes historical traces, a unique Lourdes chapel, a tropical exhibition and a circular hike that begins at the church square.

Landscape and routes around Gratkorn

Gratkorn is nestled in the Graz Hills. The surrounding countryside offers numerous hiking and cycling routes, allowing you to alternate between cultural discoveries and active days when planning your trip. One specific option is the Gratkorn circular hike. It begins at the church square and follows hiking trail no. 8 via Höllgraben and Jasen to Höchwirt. The named sections of the route provide clear orientation for planning your day without requiring you to set a specific pace for the excursion.

The church square is also a sensible starting point if you would like to get to know Gratkorn through its local history. The Catholic parish church of St. Stefan features architectural elements dating back to the Romanesque period. Together with the rectory, it is now one of the only listed historic buildings in this area. This brings historic architecture and a possible starting point for a hike together in one place.

Historical traces and distinctive cultural sites

Objects uncovered during a recent renovation prove that the first building erected here was a “villa rustica”, or country house. The building was constructed using Mediterranean building techniques and dates from the Roman Imperial period, around 200 AD. It is the only find of a Roman building in the Gratkorn Basin. For your visit, this means that Gratkorn can be viewed not only through its present-day landscape, but also through a history reaching back to the Roman Imperial period.

Another independent site with a religious character is the Lourdes Chapel in the Dult. It stands opposite Maria Rast Monastery at the intersection of Dultstraße and Brunnleitenweg. Visitors cannot enter the chapel; the Lourdes scene is best viewed through the gate. Inside, the scene of Lourdes has been recreated, showing Saint Bernadette kneeling before the apparition of the Virgin Mary. This specific view through the gate is part of the visiting experience and should be taken into account when planning.

Tropical exhibition and living tradition

The tropical exhibition is housed at the Teibinger flower farm in Gratkorn, north of Graz. Its collection comprises more than 1,100 objects. Those interested in unusual exhibits can focus on a theme here that clearly differs from churches, Roman history and landscape experiences. It is precisely these different perspectives that make Gratkorn a destination where individual excursions can be combined according to your interests, without every activity having to follow the same theme.

The maypole-raising ceremony is also part of the local annual cycle. For many years, the Gratkorn Young Farmers’ Association has erected a maypole at the Gratkorn Cultural Centre on the eve of 1 May. If you are in Gratkorn at this time, this custom offers an insight into a recurring local tradition. The event is specifically tied to the eve of 1 May.

Getting there and choosing your accommodation

Bus no. 110 takes you directly to the church square in Gratkorn. The stop is called St. Stefan Kirchplatz. This information may be relevant when choosing your holiday apartment if you would like to begin your excursions using public transport. For further planning, it is worth deciding in advance whether you want to focus on hiking and cycling days, historic sites or the tropical exhibition. This allows you to choose accommodation in Gratkorn that suits your preferred way of travelling, without prematurely combining individual experiences into one circular route.

Other places for planning your trip

If you would like to compare other destinations in addition to Gratkorn, here are the direct points of interest: Mantscha, Taschen, Deutschfeistritz, Tobelbad, Fölling, Thondorf, Edelsbach Bei Graz and Seiersberg.

For the wider travel overview: Graz-Umgebung.