Etappe 09: BergZeitReise Mürzzuschlag - Stuhleck - Pretul

Mürzzuschlag is not only home to the famous FIS Winter Sports Museum and the Brahms Museum, it is also characterized by a long history of railroads. In 1854, the Semmering Railway was opened between Gloggnitz and Mürzzuschlag as the first mountain railroad in the world. In commemoration of this event, a few years ago a railroad hiking trail was built along the Semmering Railway, which has since been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This trail serves us as the first part of the ninth stage of the BergZeitReise.

So we first hike from Mürzzuschlag (train station) along the railroad hiking trail to Spital am Semmering. There we change the side of the valley and start the ascent to the Stuhleck summit at the parish church, which is well worth seeing. Via the Hocheck and the Lechnerhaus, which is partly open in summer, we reach the broad summit of the Stuhleck with the Alois Güntherhaus (open all year) not far from the highest point.

The summit is considered to be one of the most panoramic peaks in the Eastern Alps - it is said that it overlooks 1/3 of the entire Austrian territory.

Near the mighty summit cross stands today the mountain station of the Stuhleck - lift facilities.

We now hike along the broad ridge dominated by large wind turbines in a leisurely up and down to Pretul. There is a small lookout with a dramatic story (see below).

Only a few minutes' walk to the west is where we will spend the night today, the Rosegger Schutzhaus.

Already connected to the railroad network driven from the south since 1844, Mürzzuschlag gained great importance in 1854 with the completion of the Semmering Railway as the starting or end point of this first mountain railroad. Archduke Johann had already had the idea of running a railroad line from Vienna over the Semmering to Trieste. The technical masterpiece was finally planned by Carl Ritter von Ghega . In 1998, the Semmering Railway was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. From Mürzzuschlag to Spital am Semmering, the BergZeitReise leads along the Styrian Railway Trail and gives you the opportunity to experience the railroad "up close and personal". But before that, you should visit the Südbahnmuseum (Southern Railway Museum), which focuses on the history of the construction of the Semmering Railway.

You should also visit the International Winter Sports Museum! which houses a huge collection and impressively presents the history of skiing and winter sports, as well as the lovingly designed Brahms Museum, which commemorates the composer's summer stays in 1884 and 1885 and his IV. Symphony, before moving on to the next stage of the journey.

Since the middle of the 20th century, numerous variants for tunneling under the Semmering Pass have been developed. In May 2015, the green light was finally given for the construction of the Semmering Base Tunnel , which will neatly shorten the travel time on the Southern Railway.

The Stuhleck, the highest peak in the Fischbach Alps, was the first Alpine peak to be climbed on skis in 1892 by Toni Schruf and two companions. Not far from the summit, some stone and wall fragments remind us of the Nansenhütte , the first ski hut, while today on the northwestern foothills countless skiers cavort on the slopes of the largest ski area in eastern Austria.

With the BusBahnBim app from Verbundlinie, timetable information has never been easier:All bus, train and streetcar connections in Austria can be queried 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.

Several parking possibilities in Mürzzuschlag, pay attention to short term parking zone.

www.bergzeitreise.at

www.steiermark.com/wandern

The Styria Tours app, available for free on Google Play and in the App Store (Android, iOS), offers detailed first-hand information: short facts (length, duration, difficulty, ascent and descent in altitude meters, ratings), map, route descriptions, altimeter, compass, summit finder, navigation along the tour. In addition, you can create your personal favorites list of favorite tours and points, save tours and destinations offline, play on social media channels and more.With the BusBahnBim app from Verbundlinie, timetable information has never been easier: all bus, train and streetcar connections in Austria can be queried by entering locations 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.

Free Pocket Card Hiking route "From glacier to wine" can be found at www.steiermark.com Hiking map BergZeitReise durch die Hochsteiermark can be found at www.hochsteiermark.at Compass WK212 Hochschwab, Mariazell, Eisenwurzen www.steiermark.com/buecher Freytag &Berndt WK41 Hochschwab - Veitschalpe - Eisenerz - Bruck an der Mur www.steiermark.com/buecher Hiking guide "BergZeitReise" available in the webshop Hochsteiermark, in the office of the TRV in Bruck or in well-stocked bookstores.