Brahmsfest, Neuberger Kulturtage and more cultural highlights of the Hochsteiermark

cultural highlights of Hochsteiermark

You have spent an eventful day outdoors and want to top it off with a classical concert in the evening? Then how about a visit to Neuberger Kulturtage festival at the venerable halls of Neuberg Abbey, or one of the region’s many other internationally renowned events like Brahmsfest or Aflenzer Kulturspitzen? Alternatively, you could spend a whole day immersing yourself in the local railway history or browsing a museum in Mürzzuschlag or Mürzer Oberland Nature Park if you’re looking for a break from outdoor adventures.

However, in Hochsteiermark it’s not just the cities where you can find cultural highlights. For instance, in the picturesque Waldheimat region, you can explore forests and high-alpine pastures, following in the footsteps of Austrian poet Peter Rosegger.

The sound of Hochsteiermark …

… can for instance be experienced at Neuberger Kulturtage. The festival takes place between 9 and 24 July and showcases exquisite classical music and jazz performances taking place at extraordinary locations. For instance, concert venues include the dormitory of Neuberg Abbey or the monastery itself.

Every two years in September, the “Brahms town” of Mürzzuschlag hosts the International Brahmsfest festival. Despite being dedicated to Johannes Brahms, the festival also features other composers who are in some way related to Brahms.

The literary world of Hochsteiermark

The Waldheimat region is all about the life and work of Austrian poet Peter Rosegger. If you would like to follow in his footsteps, we recommend visiting Rosegger’s birthplace at Alpl, the Waldschule or Rosegger museum. In addition, Roseggerwoche in June offers an appealing combination of hiking, readings, lectures and music. For a pre-Christmas highlight, join the Christtagsfreude hike, a wonderful winter hike with culinary delights, which takes place on the last Sunday before Christmas.

Exhibitions in Hochsteiermark

For museum lovers, Mürzzuschlag is the place to be. For instance, Brahms museum is dedicated to … who do you think? Exactly, the life and work of the famous romanticist composer. If you’re a fan of contemporary art, we recommend a visit to kunsthaus muerz.

A highlight for railway fans: SÜDBAHN museum invites you to dive into the history of Semmering railway. In addition to Austria’s largest collection of draisines and historic locomotives, the museum boasts an imperial café wagon, where you can enjoy coffee, cake and snacks in a historical environment.

As the name suggests, WinterSportMuseum is all about winter sports. Find out about the history of skiing, marvel at the race suit of Austrian skiing legend Franz Klammer or let your little ones have a go on the skibob!

Glass manufacturing, knights and churches in Hochsteiermark

And there’s even more to Hochsteiermark’s cultural scene than concerts, readings and museums! For instance, there are the region’s many palaces and castles. You can visit Oberkapfenberg castle, Lichtenegg castle ruins, Kalvarienberg or Hohenwang castle and take a hike or walk steeped in history there.

If you would like to find out more about the art of glassblowing, drop by Kaiserhof Glasmanufaktur located at the former Cistercian monastery of Neuberg an der Mürz.

Anything else? Of course: the region’s historic buildings! There’s a vast choice of architectural treasures, ranging from churches and chapels to the entire Old Town of Bruck an der Mur with its many historic buildings.