From Friedberg up to Hilmtor: shepherds used to meet there with their flocks, today cyclists enjoy a cozy resting place.
On the sunny side of the Wechsel lies the historic town of Friedberg with its unique
Thonet Museum. In the past, shepherds and their flocks used to meet up at the Hilmtor, but today it is cyclists who gather there. After a rather strenuous climb, an original "schnapps bar" awaits the weakened cyclists at Hilmtor. On the descent down to Dechantskirchen, the fantastic view can be enjoyed all the better. Shortly before Dechantskirchen,
Flourl's Schenke is an ideal place to stop for a bite to eat.
The tour is suitable for easy trekking bikes, but we recommend an e-bike due to the altitude difference.
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Directions - By car
- via the Südautobahn (A2) to the Pinggau exit
- at the traffic circle take the 3rd exit
- along the B54 in the direction of Graz/Hartberg
- along the Steinamangerer Straße
- turn left onto Hauptplatz Pinggau
- follow Grazer Straße until main square Friedberg
Start: Friedberg, at the Thonet Museum
Marking: continuous "Hilmtor-Runde"
- We turn left into Schwaighofstraße and now head in the direction of "Schwaighof".
- The route climbs up to the village of Schwaighof.
- On the way, we pass the Mother Theresa Chapel on the right.
- At the chapel in Schwaighof (Herz-Jesu-Kapelle) we turn left.
- We also keep left at the next crossroads.
- At the next junction, turn right in the direction of "Hilmtor/Panoramastüberl".
- After a few meters we turn right again and follow the signs to Volt-Austria.
- Now the route continues uphill for a few kilometers in the direction of "Hilmtor", the last section is no longer asphalted, but is easily passable.
- At Hilmtor we can now enjoy a refreshing drink at the original Hilmbar.
- We continue straight ahead through the, always in the direction of "Dechantskirchen".
- Soon we have a clear view of the countryside again.
- Shortly before a meadow chapel, we turn left downhill in the direction of "Dechantskirchen/Bergen/Flourl's Schenke".
- We keep to the right and head towards "Stögersbach".
- We soon pass the turn-off to the right, which is recommended for a stop.
- The whole of Eastern Styria now lies before us and we have a wonderful view.
- Immediately after the "Dechantskirchen" sign, we turn left ("Tennisplatz") and ride down the Karnerweg into the center of Dechantskirchen, a short tour of the village with a visit to the church is a nice interruption to the tour.
- Turn left at the municipal office and cycle past the elementary school along the main road to Stögersbach.
- We continue along the country road (cycle path R12) and can already see Friedberg ahead of us.
- At a wayside shrine, we turn left uphill towards "Maierhöfen".
- At the top of the village, we turn right and follow the cycle path out to Friedberg.
- There we turn right again into "Schwaighofstraße" and cycle back to the Thonet Museum, the starting point of the tour.
- At the end of the hike, we recommend a visit to the family-run Pizzeria Gruber, where you can enjoy a Styrian pizza.
- Or visit the unique Thonet Museum in Friedberg, where bentwood furniture was produced until 2006. (ATTENTION opening hours: Sundays from 14:00 to 16:00 or by telephone arrangement)
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Hilmtor rest area, municipality of Dechantskirchen in Eastern Styria | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | Flotoanker
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Schnapps bar at the Hilmtor, municipality of Dechantskirchen in Eastern Styria | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | Christine Pollhammer
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Schnapps bar at the Hilmtor rest area, municipality of Dechantskirchen in Eastern Styria | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | Christine Pollhammer
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View of Hohenau Chapel in the municipality of Dechantskrichen in Eastern Styria | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | Flotoanker
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Flourl´s Schenke@Oststeiermark Tourismus Flotoanker.jpg | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | Flotoanker
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Wexlkino@Oststeiermark Tourismus Anja Reichbenbäck.jpg | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | Anja Reichenbäck
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View to Dechantskirchen in Eastern Styria | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | Christine Pollhammer
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On the road in Stögersbach in Eastern Styria | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | Christine Pollhammer
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Café Grüner Baum, municipality of Friedberg in Eastern Styria | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | Christine Pollhammer
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Wechselland herbal region logo | Oststeiermark Tourismus
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