Bernstein: Nature Swimming Pool, Noble Serpentine and Castle

Bernstein brings together nature, swimming and cultural attractions. If you are looking for accommodation in Bernstein, you can plan your outings around three specific highlights: hikes in the nature park, the Planet Trail and nature swimming pool, and noble serpentine and the castle. Consider which of these interests you want to shape your stay.

Nature Park and Planet Trail

Bernstein is a popular starting point for hikes in Geschriebenstein–Írottkő Nature Park. This makes hiking in the named nature park one option alongside the individual attractions in the town. The Bernstein Planet Trail offers another way to connect with nature. At 5.5 kilometres long, it depicts the Sun and its eight planets to an exact scale of size and distance; the scale is 1:1.1 billion. Both sizes and distances are scaled down, making the proportions of the celestial bodies and the distances between them easy to visualise. The trail length gives you a clear idea of the scope of this outing. The theme combines exercise with a depiction of the Solar System.

Swimming in Bernstein

Bernstein’s natural swimming pool is fed exclusively by spring water. The Bernstein nature swimming pool has a 750 m² swimming area for swimmers, non-swimmers and toddlers. Facilities also include a swimming area for toddlers, bathing platforms, a shallow gravelled shoreline access, a water slide and a beach volleyball court. This gives you an overview of the different user groups and swimming areas, as well as the additional leisure options. Alongside the water areas, there is a beach volleyball court for a day of swimming; the slide, platforms and shallow shoreline access describe further features of the nature swimming pool.

Noble Serpentine at the Rock Museum

At the Bernstein Rock Museum, the noble serpentine collection includes a mosaic vase made from more than 500 pieces of noble serpentine, each with a different degree of translucency. It was awarded a gold medal at the 1958 World’s Fair in Brussels. This exhibit brings together the material, its varying translucency and a specific exhibition success. Multilingual electronic information panels guide visitors through the museum’s different sections and explain its many exhibits. The collection and panels offer different points of interest: one focuses on a single work and its distinctive composition, while the other provides explanations of various objects and sections.

At the Rock Museum’s noble serpentine workshop, participants can make a piece of jewellery or a worry stone from raw noble serpentine under expert supervision. Alongside viewing the collection, working with the raw material offers another way to explore noble serpentine. Workshop dates may change, so contact the museum in advance to confirm your participation.

Castle and Visit Planning

Bernstein Castle was first mentioned in 1236. This date refers to its first mention, not the year it was built. The castle features fortifications, a castle garden, a chapel and a Renaissance ballroom. From Bernstein Castle, there are views of the Hungarian Plain and southern Styria. This cultural attraction brings together historical context, different parts of the castle and views of two named landscape regions.

Specific opening times and advance booking information are also relevant for individual visits. Sunday services are held at 9:00 a.m. at the Protestant Church in Bernstein. As current service information may change, confirm the time before your visit. Telephone reservations are requested for visits to the Habetler noble serpentine workshop in Bernstein. Therefore, arrange your visit by phone in advance.

Discover more destinations: Unterkohlstätten, Bad Tatzmannsdorf, Stuben, Pinkafeld, Aschau Im Burgenland.

Go to the overview of the wider area: Oberwart.