Discover Voitsberg: History, Art and Landscape

Voitsberg presents its history in many different forms: in a former monastery church, in the art of its town hall, in museums and in traces of a medieval castle. There is also the Zangtal Energy Adventure Park, a former mining site being transformed into a landscape park. This mix offers a range of starting points for planning a vacation. First consider whether architecture, art and urban history or landscape and industrial history should take centre stage.

Churches, Art and Urban History

St. Joseph’s Church was built as a monastery church from 1690 to 1708 and features interior furnishings in the Baroque and Rococo styles. Its construction period and design offer different points of interest: the church tells the story of its origins as a monastery building while also displaying these styles in its interior.

The medieval past is also present: Voitsberg’s former Jewish quarter had its own synagogue until around 1493. Brewers have been documented at the Old Voitsberg Brewery since at least 1578. These two places point to different chapters in the town’s history—medieval Jewish life and historic brewing.

In 2002, Arik Brauer designed the façade of Voitsberg Town Hall with sayings rendered in visual form. At the Arik Brauer Town Hall, around 120 m² of hand-painted mosaic tiles on the exterior walls depict proverbs. The town hall also houses a permanent gallery featuring works by local artists.

The Franz Weiß Museum displays numerous woodcuts, reverse-glass paintings, early works and unique glass pieces by the versatile artist across two floors. The Kern Buam Museum is made from wooden sections of two old farmhouses, each more than 300 years old. Here, the building materials themselves help shape the character of the museum.

The Hans Deutscher Memorial was created in the 1950s by artists from Graz Secession. The Romhaus, meanwhile, was renovated in 1536 in the Late Gothic style, with a gate and an arcaded walkway. These examples complement the church and town hall art with a memorial and a historic building.

Castle History and Orientation

The history of Obervoitsberg Castle Ruins goes back to a castle built in 1164 at the behest of Styrian ruler Ottokar IV on land belonging to St. Lambrecht Abbey. Its first documented mention by name dates to 1183. The construction date and the written record of its name are two distinct reference points in the castle’s history.

From the castle ruins, a hiking trail leads into the town centre along the east wing of the former town fortifications. The historic walking tour of Voitsberg is not marked; it is a suggested route for visiting all 35 stops by the shortest way. If you use this tour as a guide, bear in mind that it is a suggestion rather than a marked route.

Landscape and Industrial History

The Zangtal Energy Adventure Park is a former mining site that is gradually being transformed into a landscape park. Its themes include mining, an art trail, energy and nature. One of its distinctive features is the old “Leopold” bucket-wheel excavator. The site thus connects its former use with the themes that shape the landscape park.

Greißenegg Castle is surrounded by parkland and the local recreation area around Grafenteich pond. Voitsberg therefore offers different points of interest side by side: historic buildings and art on the one hand, and a former mining site in transformation and parkland on the other.

Choose Your Accommodation Priorities

If you are looking for a holiday apartment, your preferred focus for the trip can guide your decision. For architecture, art and urban history, the church, town hall, museums and castle ruins offer specific points of interest. Those more interested in industrial history and nature can make the Zangtal Energy Adventure Park the focus of their visit; the parkland and local recreation area around Grafenteich pond by Greißenegg Castle offer another landscape experience. When planning a vacation together, it helps to consider which of these interests matters most for your stay.

Discover More Places

Discover more destinations: Voitsberg, Steinberg bei Ligist, Salla, Rauchegg, Mooskirchen, Söding, Rosental an der Kainach, Edelschrott, Hirschegg-Rein, Köflach, Maria Lankowitz, Bärnbach, Hirschegg-Piber-Sonnseite, Ligist, Modriach, Kniezenberg, Ligistberg, Krottendorf bei Ligist, Dietenberg, Bernau, Kleinsöding, Graden bei Köflach.

Go to the main travel overview: Styria.