In the western Styrian hill country, only 30 km south of Graz, lies the up-and-coming municipality of Preding, which was elevated to a market in 1462. Today Preding has about 1800 inhabitants and a lively club and cultural life.
Every year at the end of August, the traditional and oldest KÜRBISFEST in Europe with the election of the pumpkin mayor or pumpkin mayoress delights hundreds of visitors from near and far. Of course you can buy the "green gold", the pumpkin seed oil, directly from many pumpkin farmers in Preding. A hiking trail around the Preding Pumpkin Market invites you to get to know the beautiful landscape and the municipal area.
Picturesque Hornegg Castle looks down on Preding. Gut Hornegg, known for its organic fish farm, delights the palate of many a fish connoisseur. The pilgrimage church "Maria im Dorn" rises in the middle of the market. Guided tours of the church and pilgrimage services are available on request.
Numerous, high-ranking tournaments are held annually at the Stoiser riding stable and attract many visitors. Reitstall Macher in Tobis with its wine tavern, as well as the Buschenschank Müller and the Predingerhof inn on the Gantschenberg are inviting places to stay and eat. Worth seeing is the show garden of "Garten Erlauer" with the associated Café Sonnenplatz', where you can enjoy an invigorating cup of coffee, ice cream specialties or other regional delicacies in a unique child- and family-friendly ambience.
Soccer field, ice skating rink, tennis courts, the stick shooting hall, horseback riding facilities and the connection to the bike paths encourage sporting activities. The industrial park Preding with further restaurants and various shopping facilities invites you to stay. Excursion destinations in the surrounding area: Preding Zoo, Waldschach Lakes, Schilcherland, Kitzeck and the Demmerkogl with its numerous Buschenschenken.
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