Guided tour of the Weizberg church in Eastern Styria | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | Lang-Bichl - RKP Guided tour of the Weizberg church in Eastern Styria | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | Lang-Bichl - RKP
Eastern Styria. Land of nature and culture

Cultural treasures

Eastern Styria is equally rich in natural resources and cultural treasures. Step into a treasure trove and travel across the centuries and millennia. Eventful journeys through time harbour many surprises.

Eastern Styria is a land of nature and culture. It wholeheartedly confirms the adage that one cannot exist without the other. Only where nature and culture form a cohesive whole can one enjoy the good life. This was already recognised by the Romans. As Eastern Styria’s first winegrowers, they enjoyed life in the luxurious country houses. Their era is documented by the Villa Rustica excavation site on Eastern Styria’s Roman Wine Road.  

Explore the rich and varied sacral landscape with the help of a digital trip planner and audio guide as you go “organ hiking” from church to church. Experience the enjoyment of authentic art and culture. The mystic Joglland reveals itself along the Lochstein-loop trail. Eastern Styria’s megalith centre is situated around Strallegg and Miesenbach, extending to Wenigzell. A few hundred of the striking stones are found here at the edges of fields, next to ancient trees, near farms, shrines and wayside crosses.
 
Hundreds of secrets slumber underground and on the surface around Vorau. The many “private” tunnels known by the name of “Erdstall” are especially mysterious. They can be viewed in the course of guided tours offered by the Sub Terra Vorau association. There is a museum in the Waldturm of the Vorau Abbey. After uncovering Eastern Styria’s jungle along the way, a tour leads to the mystic Lost Place around the Waxenegg ruin, culminating in culinary delights at the Rauchstubenhaus. A “Häfennigl” (tasty cake from a pot) is prepared and enjoyed over the open fire in the hearth.
 
Holidays in Eastern Styria are refined by overnight stays in extraordinary accommodations, ranging from the Waggonhotel or the chambers of Schielleiten Castle and Aichberg Castle to the historic walls of Neuhaus Castle or the silence of the Vorau Abbey. Eastern Styria is multifaceted.

En route to sacral art

Churches & Chapels

Eastern Styria features numerous routes, from historic pilgrimage trails to spiritual hikes. They extend from the Vorau Abbey to the Pöllauberg pilgrimage church to “Styria’s St. Peter’s Cathedral” to the basilica on the Weizberg. Hike the Pope Francis pilgrimage trail to the Maria Trost basilica near Graz.

Find all churches & chapels here.

WORTH LISTENING TO WITH HEARONYMUS

ORGAN HIKING WITH DIGITAL AUDIO GUIDE

Churches and their organs and bells are presented and brought to life acoustically.

Hike from church to church in the Pöllauer Tal Nature Park and ApfelLand Stubenbergsee region. Once you arrive at the church, the cultural treasure of Eastern Styria, you will get to know the advantages of an individual guided tour with the sound of bells and organs using the Hearonymus audio guide.

Where history comes to life

Museum & finds

Searching for historic traces in Eastern Styria is an adventure. Arcane finds arouse curiosity. Fascinating places that tell stories of changing times. Where have we come from? Who are we? Where are we going?

 Find all museums here.

Art to Zeitgeist

From a to Z

From workshops centred on personal creativity to courses teaching ancient artisanal techniques, skilfully put into practice. A wealth of choices! Art and imagination know no bounds.

From regional permanent exhibitions to insightful perspectives at changing venues – always exciting. Radiation as a path through time can be explored in the Echophysics permanent exhibition in Pöllau Castle. Feed your curiosity.

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Chruch_Church_Eastern Styria | © Tourismusverband Oststeiermark
  • open today
  • Kaindorf

St. Stefan Church

The little known cultural jewel is the unchanged village church from the 15th century. in the tiny village of St....
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Favorite church_exterior view_Eastern Styria | © Gemeinde St. Kathrein am Hauenstein
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  • St. Kathrein am Hauenstein

Peter Rosegger's favorite church

Peter Rossegger has always seen the parish church in St. Kathrein am Hauenstein as his favorite church. "I have seen...
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St. Maximilan's church_Outside_Eastern Styria_Pollhammer | © Tourismusverband Oststeiermark
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  • Pernegg

St. Maximilian's church

The Maximilian Church is around 300 years older than the Frauenkirche in Pernegg an der Mur. The mighty, Gothic defense...
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Chapel_Maria Brunn_Eastern Styria | © Robert Hahn
  • Puch bei Weiz

Maria Brunn mountain chapel

According to the inscription, the baroque chapel was completed in 1746. The original altarpiece of the "Sorrowful...
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Mining Museum_Stollen_Eastern Styria | © Kurt Elmleitner
  • Ratten

Mining Museum Ratten

You can visit the adit in Ratten which is closed since 1960s.
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Ulrichsbrunn_außen_Oststeiermark | © Tourismusverband Oststeiermark
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  • Passail

Ulrichsbrunn Chapell

Pilgrimage church for St. Ulrich in Semriach.
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Reitenau Castle1_Eastern Styria | © Hubertus Lentz
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  • Grafendorf

Schloss Reitenau

 The beginnings of the Reitenau castle date back to the middle of the 12th century.
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Parish church Rettenegg_Eastern Styria | © Gemeinde Rettenegg
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  • Rettenegg

Parish church Rettenegg

The parish church of Rettenegg is dedicated to Saint Florian (patronage on May 4th).
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Schüsserlbrunn_Sun_Eastern Styria_Toperczer | © Oststeiermark Tourismus
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  • Breitenau am Hochlantsch

Pilgrimage Church Schüsserlbrunn

Schüsserlbrunn is a popular excursion destination and a much-visited pilgrimage church on the "Lantschmauer" at the...
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Parish church Anger_exterior view_Eastern Styria | © Tourismusverband Oststeiermark
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  • Anger

Parish church Anger

Patron Saint Andrew
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Castle Schielleiten_Front_view_Eastern Styria | © Tourismusverband Oststeiermark
  • Stubenberg

Castle Schielleiten

The baroque palace was built in the 18th century. The beautiful rooms of the castle are also suitable for seminars,...
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Schloss Aichberg_Luftaufnahme_Oststeiermark | © Tourismusverband Oststeiermark
  • Rohrbach an der Lafnitz

Aichberg Castle

Between Vorau and the East Styrian river Lafnitz you will find Aichberg Castle, which was once part of a medieval ring...
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Concert at Jazzkeller in Weiz | © TV Oststeiermark | Bernhard Bergmann

Cultural events

In Eastern Styria, nature and culture simply go together. Enjoy culture in nature at authentic sites, often under the open sky. Allow yourself to be enchanted.

Calendar of events