Aflenz Kurort – Bürgeralm, Hochschwab and Local History

If you are considering Aflenz Kurort as a place to stay for a visit to the Hochschwab massif, you should pay particular attention to access to the Aflenz Bürgeralm. Lift operations to the Bürgeralm were discontinued in March 2025. The Bürgeralm can only be reached via the panoramic road, on foot or by bicycle. This puts a specific question at the forefront when choosing your location: Are you looking for a place with a documented connection to the Bürgeralm and its trails, or do you require a currently operating lift connection? There is no currently operating lift to the Bürgeralm from Aflenz Kurort.

Location and accessibility

Aflenz Kurort lies on the southern flank of the Hochschwab massif in a climatically sheltered location. The Bürgeralm panoramic road leads from Aflenz below the Pierergut inn at an elevation of 1,000 m to the Bürgeralm at 1,500 m; the road is approximately 8 km long. The elevations refer to the respective points along the road, not to a descent or a piste length. For travel by regional bus, routes 170/171 connect Aflenz Kurort with Bruck an der Mur, Kapfenberg, Thörl, Turnau, Seewiesen, Gußwerk and Mariazell. The Aflenz Bürgeralm serves as a starting point for challenging tours into the nearby Hochschwab massif. On its southern side there is also the approximately 400 m long panoramic via ferrata. If you need a precise distinction between the town location, access route and alpine starting point for your stay, these details provide clear guidance: Aflenz Kurort is the starting location, while the Bürgeralm is reached via the panoramic road, on foot or by bicycle.

Forest trails and nature experiences

The forest nature trail begins above the outdoor swimming pool and follows easy-to-walk paths through a forest landscape typical of the region. Along the trail, 26 stations explain the forest habitat; these include a faithfully reconstructed lumberjack's hut. The Kneipp and bird nature trail complements this offering with 20 information boards about frequently occurring bird species and nesting boxes for cavity-nesting birds. The two trails have different focuses: The forest nature trail conveys the interrelationships of forest life, while the Kneipp and bird nature trail focuses on birds and their nesting sites. In the Aflenz region, the medicinal herb trail comprises 9 marked stations where particularly many medicinal herbs can be found. These paths and nature trails provide an independent complement to the challenging tours around the Bürgeralm. However, they should not be equated with a lift or piste offering.

Spa resort, history and architectural heritage

Aflenz was designated an air spa resort in 1920 and received the distinction of “therapeutic high-altitude climate spa resort” in 1979. The Aflenz spa park contains a listed pavilion and a bust of Sebastian Kneipp. The Aflenz provostry preserves a medieval structure in its north wing. The renovation and Baroque alterations by Domenico Sciassia remained unfinished between 1660 and 1693. Until 1848, the entire Aflenz Valley was administered from the provostry by the abbots of St. Lambrecht as feudal lords. The parish church of St. Peter in Aflenz is also part of the town's history. It was built around 1500 and is dedicated to Saint Peter. Guided tours with Aflenz night watchwoman Stefanie Tesch take place at regular intervals along Aflenz's Historic Market Street.

To the overarching travel overview: Bruck-Mürzzuschlag District.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Mariazell, Wegscheid, Sankt Jakob-Breitenau, Gußwerk, Turnau, Untertal, Tragöß, Sankt Sebastian.