Along the Iron Road Cycle Route R38, the area could tell us a lot about iron production. On the one hand, one of the most modern iron and steelworks in the world is located at the start in Leoben, on the other hand, the
Styrian Iron Road can tell us a lot about the past. You pass by
old stone blast furnaces and wheel mills where pig iron used to be extracted.
From the modernly developed city of Leoben, highlights for the cyclist are the art gallery with world-class cultural-historical exhibitions and the "Asia Spa" wellness oasis, we reach St. Peter Freienstein via Donawitz on a separate cycle path next to the very busy state road, then via Trofaiach to Vordernberg. For cyclists who would rather do a more leisurely pleasure tour, this tour ends here.
Sporty touring cyclists have a nice field of activity from now on: The Präbichl, with a gradient of up to 12%, requires stamina and experience: On the one hand on the ascent from Vordernberg to the top of the pass, on the other hand on the descent to Eisenerz (ATTENTION! This section of the R38 leads from Vordernberg directly along the federal road B115).
The Präbichl is one of the most important ski areas in Styria. On the descent, the Erzberg rises imposingly on the right hand side. From Eisenerz you soon reach the romantically situated Leopoldsteinersee and in a long valley basin to Hieflau.
The R 38 is signposted all the way to Vordernberg. There is almost continuously a separate bike path except Präbichlstraße to Hieflau.