Murtal between cross-country skiing, mountain landscapes and culture

If you are looking for accommodation for a ski holiday in Murtal, you will find a region with a variety of interests for day trips: Hohentauern offers a network of cross-country ski trails, while mountain lakes, hiking trails, museums, technical attractions and regional culinary destinations provide further highlights.

Murtal combines mountain hiking, relaxation beside clear lakes, cycling along the Mur and visits to traditional festivals.

Cross-country skiing and mountain landscapes in Hohentauern

The cross-country ski trail network in Hohentauern has five trail access points and is more than 13 km long. Visitors who want to experience the winter landscape away from the trails can visit the Große Scheibelsee lake at the foot of the Bösenstein in Hohentauern. The mountain lake can be reached via the toll road to the Edelrautehütte and then by a short hike.

At 2,448 m, the Große Bösenstein is the highest summit in Murtal. The Erlebniswanderweg trail from Obdach to the St. Anna viewing platform offers a different perspective on the landscape: the trail leads to a viewpoint with panoramic views across the region. In Fohnsdorf, the Natur-Historien-Lehrpfad nature and history trail follows forest paths past numerous information panels, rest areas and near-natural wetlands. The quiet Mur floodplains are also part of Murtal.

Museums between Judenburg, Zeltweg and Fohnsdorf

Judenburg brings together several cultural and historical attractions. The Judenburg City Museum presents the historical development of the region from the Stone Age to modern times. The Museum Murtal displays archaeological finds from the Hallstatt period, including weapons, jewellery and artistically decorated pottery, as well as the famous Strettweg Cult Wagon. It is housed in a former Franciscan monastery, one of the oldest buildings in Judenburg. In addition to its permanent exhibition, the museum offers special exhibitions, workshops and an interactive map of the region.

The Military Aviation Museum is located in the historic Hangar No. 8 in Zeltweg. More than 25 aircraft from the history of Austrian military aviation are displayed across 5,000 m². The museum can be reached via federal road B 317; parking is available at the sports centre. In Fohnsdorf, the Mining Museum presents contemporary historical documents and mining exhibits in 1,000 m² of covered exhibition space and 5,000 m² of outdoor grounds. Highlights include a 3,600-hp twin double-compound steam engine and a 47 m-high headframe.

The Fohnsdorf Mining Museum can only be visited as part of a guided tour lasting approximately 1.5 hours; advance registration is requested.

Technology, stars and regional events

At the Red Bull Ring, driving experiences can be booked with a Porsche 718 Cayman S, an official KTM Moto2 bike or in the off-road area. During the warmer months, there is also an 850 m-long outdoor go-kart track with 9-hp go-karts.

The Sternenturm in Judenburg is a 75 m-high city tower that is 500 years old. Access is via a glass-bottom lift or 254 steps. The Sternenturm planetarium uses a Zeiss star projector and several video projectors for its dome shows. The shows are supplemented by a high-resolution film and a live explanation of the stars and constellations. The Sternenturm can be reached by city buses 2 and 3, as well as RegioBuses 860, 870 and 871, to the Judenburg Hauptplatz stop.

The Mur Cycle Path also runs through the whole of Styria and passes the Sternenturm in Judenburg. The Seckau Alps Cycle Path R24 leads to Seckau, where Seckau Abbey is a stop along the route. The traditional Puchparade takes place in Judenburg every year on 15 August.

Regional specialities and distinctive places to stop

Following advance registration, the Seckau Abbey distillery offers distillery tours and tastings. Café and Confectionery Regner has been baking since 1660. With timely reservations, tour groups can enjoy a coffee break, gingerbread tastings and a film about the production of Seckau gingerbread. Advance registration or timely reservations are required for these offers.

The attractions in Murtal are spread across different locations: the cross-country ski trail network is in Hohentauern; the City Museum, Museum Murtal and Sternenturm are in Judenburg; the Military Aviation Museum is in Zeltweg; and the Mining Museum is in Fohnsdorf. In Seckau, the abbey distillery offers tours and tastings; Regner offers bookable services for tour groups. The regional attractions also differ in terms of access, whether a guided tour is required and transport connections. For example, the Sternenturm can be reached by several bus lines, while parking for the Military Aviation Museum is available at the sports centre.

Gaal, Judenburg subregion, Knittelfeld subregion and Weißkirchen in Styria are further regional destinations. Graz-Umgebung, Feldbach, Liezen and Leoben are also among the other destinations.

For the higher-level travel overview: Styria.