The Feistritzklamm gorge near Herberstein is one of the most valuable domestic natural areas with rare native animal and plant species and is the first NATURA 2000 European protected area in Styria.
Natural jewel & Natura 2000 area
The Herberstein Gorge is an epigenetic breakthrough valley. It extends from Lake Stubenberg to St. Johann bei Herberstein. The Feistritz flows through the last narrow valley here. Until today, the main part of the gorge has remained free of traffic. Its use has always been limited to forestry and zoological gardens. Only the ironworks at the foot of the castle brought temporary life to the gorge in the middle of the 17th century. Today's nature reserve was therefore able to fully develop as a natural area and was left to its own devices over large stretches. The European nature reserve Feistritzklamm Herberstein itself is characterized by its great scenic beauty. Particularly noteworthy are the natural gorge forests, the dry-warm rocky slopes and the unique for Styria stock of old oaks, ash trees and sweet chestnuts. This tree population provides an optimal habitat for endangered beetle species such as the stag beetle, the oak longhorn beetle and the juchten beetle, all of which are EU-protected species. Other rare animal species also find a refuge in Herberstein, such as the greater horseshoe bat, a bat species, but also the gray and black woodpecker and the eagle owl. Among the plants, the occurrence of the Herberstein primrose, which is one of the endangered species in Styria, stands out.
The Feistritzklamm gorge can only be explored during the opening hours of the Garden Palace and the Herberstein Animal World with a valid admission ticket.