Passail: Mining History, Trails and Regional Experiences

Mining History and Buildings

The show and educational tunnel in Arzberg is the only silver mine in the Graz Mountains that can still be explored. In the Middle Ages, silver from Arzberg supplied the Graz mint. A guided tour of the Arzberg show mine follows a 550-metre route through the mountain and offers insight into the harsh working conditions of the miners.

The mining educational trail leads through the former mining area around Arzberg near Passail in the Almenland Nature Park. Part of the trail is designed as a family hiking route, with dedicated stations suitable for children. If you are specifically looking for this section, it is helpful to distinguish it from the rest of the educational trail. The area also features historic buildings: Stubegg Castle was built in the 14th century; Lindenberg Church dates from the 16th century and was built in the late Gothic style.

Trails and Landscape

Hiking trail No. 706 leads to Hohenauer Ochsenhalt, a 125-hectare pasture at the foot of the Sommeralm. Its diverse plant life also includes native orchids. This gives the trail a destination with a distinctive landscape feature.

The Raabursprung loop has a different destination: this family-themed trail leads from the Waldmühle at the head of the valley to the source of the Raab. The municipality of Passail is also part of the Raabklamm Natura 2000 site. These location and trail details offer different points of reference if you want to choose your outings based on a specific destination or connection with nature.

Recreation and Regional Experiences

Passail leisure lake features a water play park, a diving tower, a water slide, a sandy beach and a raft. The Almenland Golf Course is an 18-hole course between Passail and Fladnitz/Teichalm. It offers courses for beginners, advanced players, children and teenagers, as well as a golf school. The course groups differ by experience and age.

At Almenland Stollenkäse, a guided tour covers cheese production and ripening in the Franz-Leopold tunnel, a former silver mine. After the experience, selected cheeses are served for tasting in the miners’ house. Tours at Almenland Imkerei Kreiner explain the lives of bees and how honey products are made; they include tastings of different honeys as well as honey praline chocolates.

Schroeder's Herb Workshop offers guided garden tours where visitors can smell and taste herbs; homemade juices are also available. Workshops and seminars can be held here or run by the Schroeder family. For the guided cheese, beekeeping and herb experiences, confirm the relevant arrangements before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Plenzengreith, Fladnitz An Der Teichalpe, Brand, Anger, Sankt Kathrein Am Offenegg Ii.Viertel, Breitenau, Stenzengreith, Markt Hartmannsdorf.

Return to the overview of the wider area: Weiz.