Hike through the best Schilcher vineyards of Western Styria and get to know and love the unique beauty of this area. Starting from the centre of
Stainz, hike along the hiking trail with the number 1 via the Engelweingartenweg southwards to the romantic Engelweingartenwald forest. In the forest, which has many adventures in store for the children and offers cooling on hot days, take the left-hand path with the number seven at the fork and shortly afterwards you will reach Max-Gschiel-Straße and then Rebengasse.
Passing beautiful old cellars, you will reach the next crossroads at the former JUD winery. Walk along the Schilchergasse with its beautiful vineyard houses and cellar huts and enjoy fantastic views over the hills of the Schilcherheimat.
Soon you leave the busy municipal road, go left through a short section of forest and cross the beautifully tended orchard meadows in Vochera and then reach the Vocherabergweg. Here you walk uphill for 100 metres and then turn right along shady forest paths up to the settlement on Dr. Rudolf Allitsch Straße. Immediately afterwards, a detour to the nearby Engelweingarten with its fantastic distant views and remarkable rock formations is highly recommended. A truly magical place to linger. Take your time and arrive in the heart of Western Styria.
After you have had your fill for the time being, the path continues along the Salleggerstraße to the quarry path straight ahead past a dilapidated gravel crushing plant. You would not expect to see this rustic plant here in the middle of the vineyards, but it makes a special photo motif.
Continue downhill to the Jägersteig trail. Follow the markings over the small bridge and after a short climb in Neurathberg you will pass a vineyard with a resting bench and a beautiful view of the Schilcher town of Stainz. Hopefully you also have a bottle of wine in your rucksack, because this would be the ideal place to taste it.
Soon you reach the Gamsgebirg road with renewed vigour. It goes downhill until you reach the Sierlingbach stream, here you follow trail number four into the small village with the significant name of Wald. You cross the Stainz-Marhof state road and shortly afterwards come to the beautifully renovated Rohrbacher mill on the Stainzbach stream. It is a special sound when the water rushes over the mill wheel. Just enjoy the moment.
After you have crossed the Stainzbach, the trail climbs slightly until you reach the junction of the municipal road to Preisberg at the Rohrbacher trail cross.
You hike on trail 551 across the road to Preisberg to the junction with the Marhof-Greisdorf municipal road. Continue straight on for about 700 metres to the fork in the hiking trail to the Veitlbauerkapelle chapel. Here, a detour leads to the Klug-Voltl wine tavern on the right. Of course, you can't just walk past here. Taste a sandwich with the specialities of the region and a glass of Schilcher - a real treat.
Then keep to the left on trail number 551. The trail leads up asphalt village roads to the village square in Greisdorf. From here it is worth taking a detour to the right away from the road for about 200 metres to the beautiful Klughiasl Chapel. The oldest building in Greisdorf, the former vineyard house of the Stainz canons' monastery, stands directly nearby.
You continue hiking in the best of moods on the left and enjoy the unique view of the Rosenkogel, the church of Rachling and the famous Stainzer Aussichtswarte until you come to the fork in the road with a resting bench. A detour to the lookout is always worthwhile. Here you have the best panoramic view of the hilly landscape around Stainz. Now keep to trail numbers 11G/S10, continue briefly on the main road and soon turn right up to the Kraxner Chapel.
Now follows a real highlight of this tour. A pleasure trail with wonderful distant views of the East and South Styrian hill country awaits you. At the crossroads with the sign "zu den Buschenschänken" (to the wine taverns), take the path towards the Kraxner Chapel, which you will reach in a short time. The impressive Kraxner Chapel was built in 1856 and stands at the edge of the forest. It is furnished with beautiful figures: In the centre is Our Lady with the Child Jesus. Above it is the Lamb of God. Here you reach the highest point of the hike at 646 metres above sea level. Right next to it you will find a resting place with an overwhelming view. You have truly earned the right to enjoy this view.
From the Kraxner chapel, follow the signpost "Schilcher- Rundweg St. Stefan" S12. The path leads flat through the forest for 500 metres. At the next junction, keep to the sign "Schilcher-Rundweg" S12. Shortly afterwards you will reach the asphalted municipal road in Koberegg. You hike to the left on the road through the forest and cross a beautiful, quietly situated clearing. On the left side is the beautiful, old Grabenbauer cross.
At the following crossroads, continue straight ahead. Shortly afterwards, turn right. From here, the path descends more steeply through the forest until you reach the Lemsitzbach stream, which you cross with an easy jump. You are in a beautiful gorge and can also discover a waterfall. A true place of power, the sound has a very calming effect on body and soul. Now the trail goes uphill through a mixed forest and on through an old farmhouse. The beautiful old outbuilding is made entirely of Stainzer slabs, a special building material from the region.
Continue hiking until you reach the fork in the path with the number twelve. Slightly downhill you pass through a gate and reach the Buschenschank Hackl vulgo Grabentschank. Here you should definitely taste the delicious desserts of the house.
From now on, keep to the right until you reach the Celtic tree circle at the double signpost S12, S13. This tree circle is a special feature in the region. It was created by the hunters' association and everything worth knowing about it is explained on information boards. A place with a special energy that many hikers enjoy and draw new strength from.
You walk through the vineyard, which shines in the most beautiful colours in autumn and bears wonderful grapes, and down through the forest to a stream. Continue full of verve along the stream, slightly ascending until you reach the junction with the municipal road in Grubberg. Keep left at the Köberl chapel in the direction of the Höller nursery. Follow the asphalt road, through a farm and through a vineyard. Now head downhill to the Zachgraben. The path now leads downstream as the "Schilcher circular path" to the Hubertus Chapel of the hunters' association. Take the S1 turnoff to the left uphill to the main road at the Gundersdorf fire station. From here it is only a few steps to the refreshment stops in Gundersdorf. In the village you will find everything you need for your culinary happiness. Just taste your way through. The Schicherrundweg leads you to the right through the forest and you reach an asphalted access road.
From here you have a particularly beautiful view of the Stainzer-Warte, a wooden lookout tower, the Rosenkogel, to Greisdorf and the vineyards in Langegg. Continue straight on through the vineyards in Neuberg and at the end of the asphalt road take the farm track to the wayside cross on the "Herrgott Höhe". Cross the road here, take trail S11 and hike along the new, beautifully designed pavement to St. Stefan ob Stainz. Here, once again, many refreshment stops await you. Whether a refreshing ice cream, a soothing coffee or a crispy fried chicken, here you can get everything a hiker's heart desires.
Walk through the market and from the crossroads at the church square follow the S8 markings to Stainz. At the Rüsthaus, turn half left in the direction of Lichtenhof. First take the asphalt road along the crest of the hill, then a forest path, over the Franzosenkreuz cross, to Sechterberg. The cross is also a popular photo motif.
150 metres after you leave the forest, the asphalt road turns right. Soon you branch off to the left into a flowering meadow path, walk along a field edge until you reach the woodland. You will pass the Pichlinger Marienkapelle chapel, which stands in a newly afforested forest, straight ahead. There is another short flat stretch, then a paved path leads down to the main road. Cross the road at a garage and walk along a meadow path with many blooming flowers to the footbridge over the Lemsitzbach stream.
You can already see the shining yellow Stainz Castle in front of you, a landmark of the region that is well worth a visit. Continue straight ahead and halfway up turn left directly towards the market town of Stainz. This is where the circle closes.
A unique hike through the region's most beautiful vineyards and with wonderful views of the magnificent landscape of Western Styria is coming to an end. You should have no shortage of experiences to tell your loved ones about.