Lipizzanerheimat Hill Tour
This varied e-bike tour leads through well-maintained landscapes and the vibrant centers of the Lipizzanerheimat – Köflach and Bärnbach – passing numerous cultural and tourist attractions, and all the way up to Hochtregist, where magnificent panoramic views await over the rolling hills of Western Styria.
The Hill Tour is well connected via the S-Bahn from Köflach or, for cyclists coming from Graz, from the train station in Krems, Styria. The official starting point is at the popular Therme NOVA spa in Köflach, heading east in a clockwise direction.
The first stop is the Lipizzaner Stud Farm in Piber. Be sure to allow some extra time – a guided tour is definitely worth it! Just a short ride further lies the welcoming town of Bärnbach, home to the unique parish church redesigned by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, its garden, and the fascinating Stölzle Glass Museum.
The route then climbs in serpentine curves up to Hochtregist. Along the way, you’ll enjoy lovely views, with the most impressive panorama from the Pilgrim’s Cross lookout. From here, the path leads through forests and along ridgelines southward again.
A break at the popular Gasthaus Schneiderwirt is highly recommended, as is a visit to the Kern Buam Museum, housed in a beautifully restored 300-year-old wooden farmhouse. The trail then descends into the Kainach Valley.
From Krems, the route climbs once more over scenic, well-kept hills and panoramic paths toward Rosental an der Kainach, passing by the Karl-Schacht Mining Museum before returning to the vibrant Lipizzaner town of Köflach.
What the weather will be like
Köflach (450m)
A fair early morning, later increasing cloudiness and frequent showers.
Mostly cloudy through the day with light rain now and then.