Schloßberg: Heiligengeist Gorge, Spitzmühle and culinary delights

Schloßberg combines nature experiences and places of remembrance with culinary discoveries. Particularly appealing is the combination of the Heiligengeist Gorge, Spitzmühle and a cross-border trail: the gorge leads to a pilgrimage church in Slovenia; the Cloverleaf Hiking Trail No. 1 leads to Schlossberg, crosses the gorge and reaches the pilgrimage church. Tastings of farm-produced goods and artisan wines round out the experience. This gives you a choice of different focuses for your stay.

Heiligengeist Gorge and Cloverleaf Hiking Trail

The Heiligengeist Gorge is around 3 km long and designated a protected landscape area. It leads from Spitzmühle near Schloßberg to the church of Sveti Duh na Ostrem Vrhu, also known as Heiligengeist am Osterberg, in Selnica ob Dravi, Slovenia. Rocky sections and small waterfalls shape the gorge. Its route makes it a cross-border nature destination, with named stops on both the Austrian and Slovenian sides.

The gorge and Cloverleaf Hiking Trail No. 1 are not the same thing: the trail leads to Schlossberg, crosses the Heiligengeist Gorge and reaches the pilgrimage church of Sv. Duh na Ostrem Vruh/Heiligengeist am Osterberg. Parking for this route is available by the former Schlossberg municipal office and at Spitzmühle. When planning your hike, you can distinguish between the gorge as a destination in its own right and the route of the Cloverleaf Hiking Trail.

Spitzmühle, views and remembrance

Spitzmühle in Schloßberg is a show watermill rebuilt according to old plans and serves as the starting point for the Heiligengeist Gorge. You can view its exterior at any time. The mill can therefore be enjoyed as a cultural stop in its own right, while also helping you find your bearings around the gorge entrance.

Another historical reference can be found in the entrance hall of the castle chapel at Trautenburg Castle: a commemorative plaque was installed there in 1999 in memory of the three people killed in the bombing of 17 November 1944. The plaque connects a specific place with a precisely dated event.

The 23 m-high Schlossbergwarte observation tower on Montikogel offers views of the rolling hills and neighbouring Slovenia. It is temporarily closed due to renovation work. Take its current visitor status into account if you plan to visit the tower.

Farm produce and wine tastings

Skerget's farm shop offers farm-grown and homemade products, including pumpkin seed oil, smoked meat, homemade liqueurs and fine spirits. Tastings of selected products are available there. Weingut spitzyPeitler, set amid the Schlossberg landscape, offers tastings of artisan wines. Tasting packages and opening hours at both businesses may change; check in advance to find out what is currently available.

The wine taverns also offer their own culinary highlights. Buschenschank Stelzl on Hirritschberg serves delicacies made in-house; a glass of South Styrian wine is recommended with your meal. Buschenschank Strohmeier vlg. Teichbauer offers homemade specialities. Advance orders are requested for a snack there. Wine tavern opening hours and the advance-order requirement may change, so it is advisable to check before visiting.

Choose the right focus for your stay

When looking for a holiday apartment in Schloßberg, you can start by thinking about which experiences you want to shape your stay: the Heiligengeist Gorge and hiking trail, Spitzmühle and the commemorative plaque, or tastings and wine taverns. The two parking options mentioned above can help you plan the Cloverleaf Hiking Trail; for tastings and a snack, take the respective visitor requirements into account.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Gleinstätten, Wagna, Sankt Johann Im Saggautal, Wielitsch, Neurath, Eckberg, Kranach, Ragnitz

Return to the main travel guide: Leibnitz.