Etappe 04: BergZeitReise Seewiesen - Veitsch

From Seewiesen we hike first to the Seebergalm and from there through the Lappental (wide forest path) to the idyllic Göriacher Alm at the foot of the Turnauer Hochanger. Hikers with good physical condition can easily "take along" this magnificent panoramic peak, from the Göriacher Alm about 2 hours of additional effort for ascent and descent.

However, the BergZeitReise leads us further over a short, mostly somewhat boggy passage, to the forest road in the direction of Turnauer Alm. This offers itself to us as the next resting place and the associated peak, the Turntaler Kogel, can be easily and quickly climbed.

Only a short stretch of path and the next alp awaits us, the Rotsohlalm with the Nikolokreuz, to which the legendary Rotsohler was chained by a resolute dairymaid.

From here, our overnight destination today, the Graf Meran Haus on the Veitsch can be reached either directly via the partly very steep and rocky Teufelssteig or more comfortably (but also longer in terms of time) via the Schalleralm, the Scheikl mountain inn and the path via the Schallerrinne.

The longer route is also suitable if overnight accommodation is not possible at the Graf Meran Haus (fully booked, closed) and you have to spend the night at the Gasthof Scheikl as an alternative.

... the abbot of the monastery of St. Lambrecht sent a confrere with a statue of the Virgin Mary to do pastoral work. After a long walk, an insurmountable rock blocked the way, whereupon the rock split and opened the path. Magnus placed the statue there on a tree stump and built a "cell" (monk's dwelling). Since then, this place is called Mariazell. The church there, already since the 17th century the most important pilgrimage destination of the Habsburgs and since 1907 basilica, houses a late Romanesque image of grace, the Magna Mater Austriæ , and is still considered the most important pilgrimage site in Austria and one of the most important in Europe.

Before the further course of the Gründerweg allows a visit to Archduke Johann's Brandhof, the BergZeitReise branches off again at the Seebergsattel and turns towards the mountain range of the Veitschalpe to allow for an overnight stay in the Meranhaus in the evening. There we meet the Styrian prince again, since this mountain accommodation was so named in memory of his family. In 1845, in fact, the son of Archduke Johann obtained the title of "Count of Merano".

The "Rotsohler (Rotzula)" is said to live near the Rotsohlalm. This legendary figure, who lives here, is an embodiment of the Krampus and his trademark is a heavy horse's foot. When the days become shorter, this creature is said to free himself again and again from his chain, which holds him during the year, and to chase the valley with the icy storm wind. The name, by the way, derives from the "red sole", the ore-bearing rock that is abundant here. Knowing about this rough fellow, it is not surprising that the "Teufelssteig" (devil's path) leads up to the Hohe Veitsch nearby. This steep ascent is also part of the Veitscher Grenzstaffellauf , an ultra-alpine marathon that has attracted numerous mountain runners to the Veitsch every year since 1986.

www.steiermark.com/wandern

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