Wine educational trail

Explore the unique home of the Schilcher. On this tour you will learn everything you need to know about the characterful wine with the white horse on the label.

What's better than learning all there is to know about viticulture? That's right - tasting the grape juice at the same time. This wonderful hike makes both possible. The hike takes you through the lovingly tended vineyards, which exude a special flair in every season, up to Deutschlandsberg Castle. Spring, when the grapes are in blossom, or autumn, when the grapes are ripe, are probably the best times of year for this hike.Once you reach the top, you can enjoy the beautiful view over the entire region and its vineyards. The numerous wine taverns and restaurants in the area also provide pure enjoyment. Whether it's a crisp salad with wonderfully fragrant pumpkin seed oil or a hearty Brettljause - enjoyment is written in capital letters here in one of the most beautiful spots in Styria.The importance of viticulture here is also evident in the Urbani table, which was dedicated to St. Urban - the patron saint of winegrowers.

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

The tour in numbers

easy

Level of difficulty

3,5 km

Route

1:45 h

Time

150 hm

Uphill

150 hm

Downhill

520 m

Highest point

Map & downloads

Download GPX data

Download KML data

More information

Plan your journey via Google Maps to the starting point of the tour: www.google.at/maps

From the north: Motorway Munich - Salzburg - Eben - Schladming - Liezen onto the A9 towards Graz. Exit at Lieboch and follow the B76 towards Deutschlandsberg. At the 3rd roundabout in Deutschlandsberg take the first exit towards Hauptplatz. A9 is subject to toll - Gleinalmtunnel. Alternative: At St. Michael take the S6 towards Bruck and in Bruck take the S35 towards Graz.

From the west: In Villach take the A2 towards Klagenfurt. Exit at Steinberg and drive in the direction of Stainz, from there along the B76 in the direction of Deutschlandsberg.

From the east: A2: Vienna - Aspang - Hartberg - Fürstenfeld - Graz. From Graz continue on the A2 in the direction of Klagenfurt and take the Lieboch exit in the direction of Stainz/Deutschlandsberg/Eibiswald. Follow the B76 to Deutschlandsberg.

From the south: A1 from Marburg to Leibnitz. Exit in Leibnitz (Gralla) and continue on the B74 in the direction of Deutschlandsberg (Heimschuh - Gleinstätten - St.Martin - Deutschlandsberg). Exit at the LKH Deutschlandsberg and follow the road towards Hauptlatz.

With a distance of a good three kilometres, this hike is also well suited for children. As you start directly in front of the Schilcherland tourist office, it is essential that you get all the important first-hand information about this beautiful region and also get lots of tips about the numerous hiking opportunities through the home of the Schilcher.

Off you go in the direction of Deutschlandsberg Castle. Walk through the beautiful large avenue of trees to the railway tracks and cross them. Now walk along Klöpferweg, named after a local poet, and then turn left into Kapellenweg. The path leads you past the JUFA Hotel, which has its own bowling alley, inviting you to a fun round.

You will then reach the educational wine trail. Once in nature, you follow the Jakobiweg and while climbing the steps, you also take the time to examine the grapes along our path. These grapes are various fungus-resistant table grapes, so they are not sprayed and are there for the walkers to taste.

This gives you the necessary energy to easily manage the last steep metres up to Deutschlandsberg Castle. At the top you will be rewarded with the magnificent view over the surrounding countryside of Deutschlandsberg and the wonderful upscale cuisine of the castle restaurant. The interesting castle museum is now also waiting for you to visit.

Continue in the direction of Schlossweg to Gasthof Stöcklpeter, where typical delicacies await you. There you will find the Urbani Chapel, dedicated to the patron saint of winegrowers, St. Urban. Along the castle path, local noble grape varieties are described again and again. First and foremost the Blaue Wildbacher vine, from which the famous rosé-coloured Schilcher, the eponym of our region Schilcherland, is pressed. This type of vinification is unique in the world. Schilcher can only be found in Western Styria. The wine smells of strawberries and its crisp acidity makes it wonderfully refreshing.

The trail takes you past many different Buschenschänken and gastronomic establishments. Here you can taste numerous wines or make yourself comfortable in one of the many parlours. Also taste the homemade desserts, you won't regret it.

After the wine trail, turn right at the Schiller monument in the Stiftungspark. Follow the path downhill until you reach the Klöpferweg again. Keep left here and follow the Klöpferweg to the railway crossing. Then turn right into Ringweg. Walk up this path until an asphalt path branches off to the left to Schulgasse. Cross the Schulgasse and walk through the Straschek installation company to reach the starting point in the centre again.

Now you will not only feel good after the hike, you will hopefully have enjoyed the delicacies of the region and learned everything worth knowing about viticulture in Western Styria along the way. Why not take a few bottles home with you? A glass of wine will bring back memories of this beautiful hiking day in the home of the Schilcher.

Deutschlandsberg Castle: In addition to a museum and the unique view from the top of the tower room, the castle also offers a restaurant with fantastic cuisine.

You can find timetables and travel information directly at

With the BusBahnBim app of the Verbundlinie, timetable information is easier than ever: all connections by bus, train and tram in Austria can be retrieved by entering places and/or addresses, stops or important points. The app is available as a free app for smartphones (Android, iOS) - on Google Play and in the App Store.

Parking is possible behind the town hall (next to the Laßnitz).

Tourism Association Schilcherland Styria

Hauptplatz 40

A-8530 Deutschlandsberg

Tel +43 3462 7520

office@schilcherland.at

www.schilcherland.at

The hiking folder and the district-wide hiking map of Deutschlandsberg can be ordered free of charge online at www.schilcherland.at. ONLINE TOURS APP

All hiking tours can be found online at www.schilcherland.at/bewegung or via APP South & West Styria Tours in their app store.