Hike from Bruck an der Mur to Hochschwab
City - Countryside - Mountain
From the city (Bruck an der Mur), through the countryside (Sankt Marein and Sankt Lorenzen im Mürztal), to the mountain (Turnau and the gateway to Hochschwab) – this is how you experience the Upper Styria in all its diversity.
Bruck an der Mur, with its historic old town and the Bruck Castle Hill, combines urban life with a unique natural environment. Additionally, the city, with the famous Kornmesserhaus, is located on the banks of Austria's largest Styrian river, the Mur – and here runs the Murradweg, one of the most popular cycling routes in Austria.
In the neighboring Sankt Marein im Mürztal, with the only Mürztal pilgrimage site, Frauenberg/Maria Rehkogel, you can combine shopping, cycling (Mürztalradweg), and nature enjoyment.
In Sankt Lorenzen im Mürztal, which borders Sankt Marein to the north, culture and gastronomy dominate. The town boasts the oldest Mürztal parish church (built in 925), a cultural-historical gem. Also, with the Pogusch, Steirereck, and the romantic Bründlweg, all food lovers can find something to delight their taste buds.
Behind the Pogusch, you will find the market town of Turnau, the gateway to Hochschwab. The town is a vacation destination for summer freshness and winter fun.
Day 1:
Main Square of Bruck an der Mur - Gasthaus Himmelwirt - Almgasthaus Hutterer - Rennfeld Schutzhaus - Rennfeld
Day 2:
Rennfeld - Frauenberg - St. Marein - St. Lorenzen im Mürztal
Day 3:
St. Lorenzen im Mürztal - Göritz/Pogier - Pfarrberg - Bründlweg - Pogusch - Schwabenbergarena Ski Resort - Turnau
Day 4:
Turnau - Osterer Alm - Turnauer Hochanger - Göriacher Alm - Lappental - Seeberg or Seewiesen
Day 5:
Seewiesen or Seeberg - Florlhütte - Voisthaler Hütte - Obere Dullwitz - Graf Meran Steig - Rotgangboden - Schiestlhaus - Hochschwab - Schiestlhaus - Aflenzer Staritzen - Seeberg or Seewiesen
Note for Day 5: This section of the tour should only be undertaken by well-conditioned hikers in one day. It is recommended to split the tour into two days with an overnight stay at either the Voisthaler Hütte or Schiestlhaus for a more enjoyable and rewarding experience.
Stage 1: From Bruck to Rennfeld
Starting point: Bruck/Mur, T: +43 3862 306010
End point/Overnight: Rennfeld Schutzhaus, T: +43 3864 6761, +43 664 2175225
Length: 9.7 km
Elevation Gain: 1,150 meters
Walking time: approx. 4 hours
Difficulty: Easy mountain hike, with short steeper sections.
Stage 2: From Rennfeld to Mürztal
Starting point: Rennfeld Schutzhaus, T: +43 3864 6761, +43 664 2175225
End point/Overnight: St. Marein or St. Lorenzen im Mürztal
Length: 15 km
Elevation Gain: 297 meters (Descent: 1,357 meters)
Walking time: approx. 5 hours
Difficulty: Easy hike, mainly downhill.
INFO: +43 3862 306010
Stage 3: From Mürztal to Turnau at the foot of Hochschwab
Starting point: St. Marein or St. Lorenzen im Mürztal
End point/Overnight: Turnau, T: +43 3863 2111 14, +43 664 3548485
Length: 20.1 km
Elevation Gain: 1,018 meters
Walking time: approx. 8 hours
Difficulty: Easy, slightly longer hike
INFO: Infopoint Turnau, T: +43 3863 2111 14, +43 664 3548485
Stage 4: From Turnau over Hochanger to Seewiesen, the Styrian Heiligenblut
Starting point: Turnau, T: +43 3863 2111 14, +43 664 3548485
End point/Overnight: Seewiesen, T: +43 3863 2111 14, +43 664 3548485
Length: 13.5 km
Elevation Gain: 1,025 meters
Walking time: approx. 5.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy, slightly longer alpine and forest hike
INFO: Infopoint Turnau, T: +43 3863 2111 14, +43 664 3548485
Stage 5: From Seewiesen to the 2,277 m high Hochschwab
Starting point: Seewiesen, T: +43 3863 2111 14, +43 664 3548485
End point/Overnight: Schiestlhaus or Voisthalerhütte on Hochschwab, T: +43 699 10812199 (Schiestlhaus), T: +43 664 5112475 (Voisthalerhütte)
Length: 12.3 km (ascent only)
Elevation Gain: 1,410 meters
Walking time: approx. 5.5 hours
Difficulty: Alpine mountain hike, do not attempt in bad weather
INFO: Infopoint Turnau, T: +43 3863 2111 14, +43 664 3548485
Characteristics
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The tour in numbers
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From the Vienna metropolitan area, take the A2 / Südautobahn and S6 / Semmering Expressway to Bruck an der Mur.
Here, at the new roundabout "Bruck Süd", cross the new Europabrücke over the Mur and follow Herzog Ernst Gasse and Kreckerstraße to Kirchplatz / City Parish Church.
From Graz and Slovenia, take the A9 / Pyhrnautobahn to Bruck an der Mur. Continue as above.
From Linz/Salzburg or Germany, take the A9 / Pyhrnautobahn to Bruck an der Mur. Continue as above.
www.at.map24.com
We start at Bruck's Main Square, which is one of the most beautiful town squares in Austria. Additionally, it is the second-largest town square in Austria in terms of area, after Vienna's Rathausplatz, covering around 14,000 m². After a three-hour ascent, we reach one of the most beautiful panoramic mountains in Styria – the 1,629-meter high Rennfeld. From here, on clear days, the view stretches all the way from the eastern Styria Thermal Region to the glacier mountains of the Hohe Tauern.
After a night at the Rennfeld Schutzhaus, which is located near the summit, we descend steeply into the small pilgrimage town of Frauenberg, home to the picturesque Maria Rehkogel Pilgrimage Church. We continue downhill until we reach the Mürztal at St. Marein, where we cross the valley and spend our second night in St. Lorenzen.
On the third day, from St. Lorenzen, we follow parts of the Bründlweg/Pogusch and pass by the Schwabenbergarena (a small ski resort) towards Turnau, a charming village at the foot of Hochschwab, with several accommodation options.
The next day, from Turnau, we take a beautiful route to the Turnauer Hochanger and continue to Göriacher Alm. We descend through Lappental to Seebergpass/Seebergalm and possibly even further to Seewiesen, where we spend our fourth night.
On the fifth day, we face the highlight of the tour, the ascent to Hochschwab, reaching the 2,277-meter summit via Dullwitz and Rotgangboden. For scenic reasons, it's highly recommended to split this stage into two days, with an overnight stay either at Voisthalerhütte or Schiestlhaus. The descent can be done via the same route or, for a more scenic but more challenging option (only recommended in good weather), via the Staritzen back to Seebergpass.
From Seewiesen or Seebergpass, a bus (with several connections daily) will take us back to Bruck an der Mur.
The individual stages Bruck an der Mur - Rennfeld, Turnau - Turnauer Alm, and Seeberg - Hochschwab are also highly recommended as day tours!
In the area around Stadtpfarrkirche - Kongresszentrum, there are numerous free parking options available.
Covered parking is also available in the paid underground parking garage at the Main Square or in the APCOA multi-story garage, located near the train station.
http://www.bruckmur.at/buergerservice/parkraumbewirtschaftung
Gallery
What the weather will be like
Bruck an der Mur (486m)
