I'll be back
“I’ll be back” – yes, of course we’ll return to Thal, Arnold’s hometown. But on this beautiful tour through the western part of Graz, make sure to leave yourself some “free” time for a relaxed break in an orchard or vineyard, for a few sightseeing stops, and above all, to enjoy delicious regional snacks at one of the area’s excellent rustic wine taverns (*Buschenschänken*).
On the tour from Thal to the west of Graz, we pass Eben, the Steinberg observatory and Rohrbach, where Vinzenz Stern produces award-winning cheeses such as Aichstern, Liebochthaler and Camembert at the Aichsternhof and sells them in his own farm shop.
The R56 Liebochtal cycle path leads past extensive orchards and vineyards and many popular wine taverns (Dorner, Reicher, Lärchegg-Schmölzer and others) – it would be a real shame to just "ride past" here. And hopefully you have a bit of room in your bag, basket or rucksack, because they press excellent seed oil at Birnstingl in Reiteregg. In St. Bartholomä, the neo-Gothic church invites you to pause and reflect for a moment.
The following stage to Stiwoll is a particularly attractive part of this circular tour, as it offers unique views over the extensive Gleinalm and the Koralpen region to the Styrian-Slovenian border. We continue via Schirning in the direction of Gratwein Straßengel, where a jump into the cool water (15,000 m² water surface) in the Bad Weihermühle is the perfect way to cool off. Refreshed, you are now ready for the next discovery: the pilgrimage church of Maria Straßengel is one of the most important High Gothic sacred buildings in Austria. From Graz Gösting, where you could take a "climb" (on foot only) to the ruins of Gösting, the Thaler cycle path takes us to Thalersee lake and back to the starting point.
Characteristics
Best season
The tour in numbers
Map & downloads
More information
by bike: from Graz Gösting Thaler Cycle Route R 39
Route: Thal – Eben – Steinberg – Rohrbach – (R56 Liebochtalradweg) – Reiteregg – Sankt Bartholomä – Stiwoll – Obere Schirning – Untere Schirning – Gratwein – Straßengel – (R2 Murradweg) – Raach – Graz Gösting – (R39 Thal cycle route) – Thal
Connection to Graz via the R2 Murradweg (5.6 km / 37 m elevation gain from Graz city center)
E-bike charging stations: St. Bartholomä, Main Square Gratwein, Main Square Straßengel
Be sure to allow enough time for breaks – for example, at one of the many rustic wine taverns (*Buschenschänken*), for a swim at Bad Weihermühle, or to explore the many sights directly along the cycle path and in Thal.
Cycling map of the Graz Region
Graz Region Tourist Board
Graz Region – Tourist Information Office
Herrengasse 16, 8010 Graz, Austria
T: +43 / 316 / 80750, info@regiongraz.at
www.steiermark.com – Pleasure cycling and biking
Gallery
What the weather will be like
Thal (459m)
