Weißkirchen in der Steiermark: Pilgrimage, Gemstones and Tours

Weißkirchen in der Steiermark brings sacred art, hands-on discoveries and routes to explore on foot or by bike together in one travel destination. The Maria Buch pilgrimage church offers a glimpse into the religious history of the Upper Mur Valley; at Edelsteine Krampl, stone cutting and minerals take centre stage. Hiking and cycling routes are also presented for Weißkirchen. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, consider what you would like to shape your vacation days most: culture, getting involved together, or outdoor activity.

Maria Buch Pilgrimage Church

Construction of the Maria Buch pilgrimage church began in 1455. Inside the church, a late-Gothic statue of the Virgin Mary dating from 1480 stands beneath a canopy in the centre of the altar. The two dates refer to different details: the start of the church’s construction and a specific work of art. This connection makes the site particularly interesting for travellers who, when exploring a cultural topic, look not only at the age of a building but also at its furnishings. The statue and its position on the altar provide a tangible focal point. Maria Buch is also an important pilgrimage site in the Upper Mur Valley and thus a religious landmark of the region.

Gemstones, Stone Cutting and Hands-on Activities

At Edelsteine Krampl, the glass factory offers a glimpse into the detailed work of stone cutting. There is also a mineral exhibition featuring exceptional stones. This brings together craftsmanship and the diversity of minerals—two different ways of exploring a shared theme. Numerous workshops and activity programmes give children and adults the opportunity to take part and get creative. For families travelling together, this offers a different focus from an exhibition that invites visitors only to look: here, getting involved is part of the experience. When planning a trip, you can therefore consider whether your fascination with stones is more likely to come from seeing them worked, exploring the exhibition or taking part in a creative activity.

Hiking or Cycling

The Weißkirchen Circular Hike is one of the hiking tours presented for Weißkirchen. For cycling, the Zirbenland Cycle Route R26 and the Gravel and Leisure Cycling Loop from Fisching into the Zirbenland are listed. This gives you a choice of different ways to get active: a circular hike and two named cycling routes. It is a practical starting point for planning your day and deciding whether you would rather explore on foot or by bike. The Gravel and Leisure Cycling Loop also has its own name, distinguishing it from the R26 route, which is also featured. This lets you take your interests into account when choosing a holiday destination, without combining hiking and cycling into a single itinerary.

An Activity for Children and Teenagers

The Schirkhof organic farm offers resilience training for children and teenagers with specially trained farm animals. This activity provides a distinct focus alongside culture and outdoor pursuits: it centres on training, young participants and specially trained animals. If you are travelling with children or teenagers, this is a clearly defined activity you can consider when planning your trip. It differs both from the creative workshops at Edelsteine Krampl and from the featured hiking and cycling routes. This makes it easier to tailor your daily plans to the interests of everyone travelling with you.

Beer Brewing and Potato Cultivation

Production and agriculture are also among the topics that make Weißkirchen interesting. Gasselmüller Bräu brews its beer with great passion and entirely by hand. For decades, the Starzinger farm run by the Grangl family has grown high-quality seed potatoes and potatoes for consumption. These two examples represent different forms of production: artisanal beer brewing on the one hand, and the long-standing cultivation of seed and table potatoes on the other. For travellers interested not only in church art and activities but also in craftsmanship and agriculture, they offer a broader perspective on the area. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can first consider which of these interests you would most like to shape your stay.

Discover more destinations: Judenburg, Sankt Johann Am Tauern, Sankt Georgen Ob Judenburg, Pusterwald, Hohentauern, Oberzeiring, Fohnsdorf, Zeltweg.

Back to the main travel overview: Judenburg.