Christmetten Circuit, St. Kathrein am Hauenstein
Here you embark on a leisurely hike in the footsteps of Peter Rosegger in the heart of the Waldheimat - in St. Kathrein am Hauenstein.
In his story "In der Christnacht" from the famous book "Als ich noch der Waldbauernbub war" ("When I was still a forest farmer's boy"), the Styrian poet Peter Rosegger describes his first walk to Christmas mass from the Kluppeneggerhof down to St. Kathrein am Hauenstein. The Rosegger family walked this path every Christmas Eve, often in stormy weather and driving snow. It is still walked today in memory of the great son of the Waldheimat at Christmas on a guided hike. This Christmas Eve hike attracts numerous visitors every year on Christmas Eve.
In addition to Peter Rosegger's beloved church, there is also an exhibition in the village of St. Kathrein am Hauenstein dedicated to the life of the poet.
The path is marked with boards with the inscription Christmettenweg. Forests and beautiful vantage points alternate with each other, and culinary stops must not be missed in Styria, of course.
Characteristics
The tour in numbers
medium
Level of difficulty
Map & downloads
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More information
The municipality lies in the valley of the Hirschbach, a tributary of the Feistritz, in the Fischbach Alps and is part of Peter Rosegger's Waldheimat. It covers an area of 19.25 square kilometers. Of this, 40 percent is agricultural land and 55 percent is forested.
By car:
From Vienna: via the A2 Südautobahn highway and the S6 Semmering expressway to the Krieglach exit. From Graz via Weiz and Birkfeld to St. Kathrein am Hauenstein.
Detailed information on how to get there can be found here.
- We start the hike on a hill near the parish church of St. Kathrein am Hauenstein.
- In a bend we turn right and hike along the Hirschbach stream until we reach a sawmill
- We follow the stream uphill until we come to two long hairpin bends.
- Continue until you reach the Hochegger farm and a memorial cross (1126m).
- Via a forest path we go further downhill to the Lendkreuz (1044m)
- From the Lendkreuz we go uphill again over a road, past the Schmiedhofer homestead.
- Along the hiking trail we go to the house where Peter Rosegger was born (1144m).
- The descent via the circular path is partly steeper and leads past the forest school.
- From the forest school it goes again slightly uphill in an easterly direction over the Großheidenbauer past the Schlagobersbauer inn.
- At a crossroads we turn sharply to the left - in a few minutes we reach the Alpl federal road
- Before we get to the main road, we turn right in the last curve of the gravel road
- Now we are on a forest road
- Follow this forest road until you reach the Roseggerhof Inn (+43 3173 2711).
- Passing the Roseggerhof inn, a few meters below, a goods road begins, which we follow to the parking lot of the cemetery in St. Kathrein am hauenstein
- From the parking lot it is possible to walk directly into the village of St. Kathrein am Hauenstein via the parish church (asphalted road next to the main road).
Every year on December 24, a hike is held along the Christmettenweg in memory of the great local poet - you have to experience it!
St. Kathrein am Hauenstein, parking spaces directly in the village, at the parish church and at the inns (free)
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View of St. Kathrein am Hauenstein, Joglland forest home in Eastern Styria | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | Kurt Elmleitner
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Peter Rosegger memorial in St. Kathrein am Hauenstein, Joglland forest home in Eastern Styria | © Gemeinde St. Kathrein am Hauenstein | Tourismusverband Oststeiermark
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Peter Rosegger's birthplace in St. Kathrein am Hauenstein, Joglland forest home in Eastern Styria | © unbekannt | Steininger
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Information board in St. Kathrein am Hauenstein, Joglland forest home in Eastern Styria | © WEGES | Elisabeth Zienitzer/Silvia Sarcletti
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Infotafel zum Christmettenweg beim Geburtshaus | © WEGES | Elisabeth Zienitzer/Silvia Sarcletti
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Favorite church_exterior view_Eastern Styria | © Gemeinde St. Kathrein am Hauenstein
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Peter Rosegger Forest School in St. Kathrein am Hauenstein, Joglland forest home in Eastern Styria | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | Oststeiermark Tourismus
What the weather will be like
Fischbach (992m)
Fair in the early morning, later variable with frequent showers.
Morning clouds will clear gradually. Then frequent sunny periods.
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