Erzwanderweg

The theme trail Erzwanderweg is located in the region ERZBERG LEOBEN.

The processing of ore at the Styrian Erzberg is inseparably linked to the economic history of Styria. While in the early Middle Ages iron production still functioned in manageable quantities around the Erzberg, the situation changed in the second half of the 13th century with the use of water power. With it, production could be increased significantly. The big challenge now was the transport from the mountain via Präbichl to the wheel works in Vordernberg, where the ore was smelted into pig iron. In 1844, Archduke Johann commissioned his brother-in-law, Johann Dulnig, to build an ore conveyor railroad. The Dulnig ore railroad was unique in the world. It consisted of a continuous rail system with 5 horizontal tracks and 2 inclined elevators ("Bremsberge"), as well as ore magazines, stockpiles and a roasting plant.

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

The tour in numbers

easy

Level of difficulty

7,1 km

Route

2:30 h

Time

24 hm

Uphill

405 hm

Downhill

1226 m

Highest point

Map & downloads

Download GPX data

Download KML data

More information

Details on how to get there can be found here.

Along the ore hiking trail we hike from Präbichl to Vordernberg, along the Dulnig'schen ore conveyor railroad, which was formerly used to transport ore from the Styrian Ore Mountain to the blast furnaces (also called wheel works) in Vordernberg.

Starting from the Präbichl pass we walk along the road to the former Handlalm restaurant and continue along the well-marked path to the alpine houses, always along the Dulnig'schen ore conveyor railroad.

This used to be used for transporting ore from the Styrian Ore Mountain to the blast furnaces - also called wheel works. Built in 1844/47, the Dulnig'sche Erzförderbahn replaced the old ore haulage system using horse-drawn carts between Erzberg and Vordernberg and represented a unique ore transport system worldwide. In 1891, it was replaced by the Erzberg Railway and shut down. The conveyor system consisted of a continuous rail system with 5 horizontal tracks and 2 inclined elevators ("Bremsberge"), as well as ore magazines, stockpiles and a roasting plant.

At the former stop Glaslbremse you continue along the marked path to Lautenziröst, Schönhalde to the main square in Vordernberg.

The entire trail is well marked throughout and provides interesting information about the heyday of ore mining.

After the hike, you can learn interesting facts about ore processing at Radwerk IV.

The Erzwanderweg can also be hiked in winter with snowshoes.

Timetables and travel information can be found directly at:

Österreichischen Bundesbahnen (ÖBB)

Steiermärkischen Landesbahnen (STLB)

www.busbahnbim.at

With the BusBahnBim app of the Verbundlinie, timetable information has never been easier: all bus, train and tram connections in Austria can be queried by entering locations and/or addresses, stops or important points. The app is available as a free app for smartphones (Android, iOS) - on Google Play and in the App Store

Parking is available along the walkway.

Tourismusverband ERZBERG LEOBEN

Tourist office

Hauptplatz 3

8700 Leoben

Phone: +43 3842 481 4 810

office@erzberg-leoben.at

Steirische Eisenstrasse