Hiking route HeilBrunnWeg around the Brandlucken - Touren-Impression #1 | © Oststeiermark Tourismus Hiking route HeilBrunnWeg around the Brandlucken - Touren-Impression #1 | © Oststeiermark Tourismus

HeilBrunnWeg around the Brandlucken

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This circular trail connects the springs and fountains around Heilbrunn in the Almenland Nature Park in Styria.  Beautiful places invite you to reflect and enjoy the view.

The path goes back to an initiative of the local development association "herzlich begegnen, Heilbrunn- Brandlucken" and was implemented together with the Heilbrunn parish council.

Starting from the salvific well in front of the pilgrimage church, the springs and wells around Heilbrunn were connected and 13 stations were designed - for pausing and resting. Large stones mark each station, and panels provide food for thought that invite visitors to embark on an "inner journey" from which they can draw strength. The corresponding spiritual stories can be found at www.hbweg.at, and the accompanying booklet is available free of charge at the innkeepers and in the parish church.

The path is also a beautiful family hiking trail with beautifully designed rest areas and refreshment stops on the Brandlucken and at the Heilbrunn church.

Characteristics

Skill
Fitness

Best season

January
February
March
December

The tour in numbers

5,8 km
Route
2:00 h
Time
240 hm
Uphill
240 hm
Downhill
1149 m
Highest point

Map & downloads

More information

The Brandlucken, this "clearing" between the Sommeralm and St. Kathrein am Offenegg, traces its name back to slash-and-burn farming. In the 13th and 14th centuries, the need for land also led to settlements in higher areas, and until the 19th century, mainly grain was cultivated on the land thus gained.

Today the Brandlucken is a tourist center with the hotel facilities and the open-air stage. On the roofed stage, which holds more than 500 visitors, mainly comedies and folk comedy plays are performed in summer by the amateur actors of the "Huabn Theater". But also concerts and the Brandluckner Advent take place here.

The place of pilgrimage Heilbrunn dates back to the 17th century, when a cross was erected at a spring known to have healing properties. In 1642 the first chapel was built here by the owner of the Waxenegg estate, who was cured of his illness here. The place experienced its heyday between 1760 and 1784, when it was visited by about 665,000 pilgrims and 299 miracles were recorded in the "Miracle Books". Today's parish and pilgrimage church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary dates back to 1787 and is a so-called "Josephine hall church", which impresses with its simplicity and clarity. The high altar was made by the carpenter Josef Flausch and the painter Caspar Tendler. In front of the church there is a fountain chapel with a sculpture group of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary, the healing water is supposed to help especially with eye diseases.

Right next to the Heilbrunn pilgrimage church begins the children's icon pilgrimage route, the total of 9 stations were designed by children under the motto "from everyday life to heaven and back again". The first children's pilgrimage trail in Austria can be walked freely and is also interesting for adults. (pure walking time approx. 45 minutes).

The way is very well marked with blue "water drops" and can be therefore walked problem-free also from the Brandlucken (entrance between nature hotel Bauernhofer and the Kornreitherhaus).

At www.hbweg.at you can find the corresponding spiritual stories, the accompanying booklet is available free of charge at the innkeepers and in the parish church.

  • We start at the pilgrimage church Heilbrunn, the path starts directly in front of the church.
  • We go down to the right, past the GH Bratl and along the path with beautiful views.
  • Passing beautiful farmsteads and some nice resting places we follow the "Wassertropfen" signs to the "Zieselhof".
  • Now we turn right and walk along trail no. 761 or the markings up to the Brandlucken, which we reach at the open-air theater.
  • We stop at one of the businesses on the Brandlucken or cross the square and change the side of the road at the Naturhotel Bauernhofer.
  • The entrance to the path is next to the hotel or at the entrance to the hotel "Kornreitherhaus".
  • We pass the Kornreitherhaus and the chapel and follow trail no. 745 through the forest to the clearing at the "Mautmini" chapel with the rest area.
  • At the chapel we go down the path to the right and then across a pasture (attention: here you have to reckon with grazing cattle!) to the farm "Rochus in Nöstl".
  • At the "Kirchenwirt" (the farm is no longer open) we reach the road again and are thus back at the starting point.

Blessing of flowers and herbs in the pilgrimage church Heilbrunn on August 14 at 7:30 p.m., on the "Great Women's Day" (August 15) many pilgrims visit Heilbrunn.

​​Timetables and travel information can be found at the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) or at Verbundlinie Transport Information. For local transport we recommend the SAM shared taxi East Styria.
SAM stop: WZ3144 Heilbrunn - Ort

All information about the region, the places to stop and stay overnight and the excursion destinations can be found at

Eastern Styria Tourist Board
Naturpark Almenland Office

Fladnitz 100
8163 Fladnitz an der Teichalm
T: +43 3179 23000 
www.almenland.at | www.oststeiermark.com

Current weather 
Mobility Eastern Styria with shared taxi SAM

Find out about maps, hiking brochures and other tour tips at the tourist office. You can also order information material on our website from the comfort of your own home.

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