Karnerviertel: History, Trails and Excursions

Karnerviertel combines a distinctive local history with historical sites and excursion destinations. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Karnerviertel, you can therefore tailor your stay to a wide range of interests: discover historical traces, relax by the lake, enjoy leisurely, level walking paths or plan mountain and winter sports activities.

Historical Traces Around Karnerviertel

Historical Karnerviertel emerged from the settlements of Saager-, Khärner- and Munichbauerrott. In the 1770 census, the Mönichwald estate was divided into the two sections of Karnerviertel and Schmiedviertel. This development makes the name an important gateway to the history of the area.

Mönichwald is an important point of reference for the history of the church: The first church, dedicated to Saint Peter in Munichwald, was consecrated on December 17, 1163, by Archbishop Eberhard II of Salzburg. The present parish church of Mönichwald is dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul and was built in 1716. The leaning Plague Cross in Breitenbrunn also brings history and landscape together. It lies along the route from Waldbach toward Hochwechsel and was built in the 16th century. The rock associated with Hertenfels Castle is considered a popular excursion destination; its ink traces have survived to this day.

Lake, Walking Paths and Active Days

For a more relaxed day, the Mönichwald recreational lake is an excellent option. The lake covers 7,500 square meters and lies at an altitude of around 600 meters above sea level. There, you can ride pedal boats and go stand-up paddleboarding. The recreational area also includes a beach volleyball court and an asphalt track. This allows you to enjoy a varied stay without planning every excursion as a long mountain tour.

The “Joglland-Roas” follows pleasant, level walking paths along the Lafnitz and around the Mönichwald recreational lake. This difference may be relevant when choosing your accommodation: If you prefer quiet paths and experiences on the water, a travel plan combining the lake and a walking route suits a different holiday pace than a stay focused on Hochwechsel and winter sports.

Hochwechsel, Hiking and Winter Sports

The summit of Hochwechsel offers numerous opportunities for hiking and walking, including a hut hike from one alpine hut to the next. Another hike leads from Waldbach via Mönichwald to Festenburg and onward to Festenburg Castle. Festenburg was built around 1200 by the Lords of Stubenberg.

The area also offers specific options for active winter days. The Hochwechsellifte Mönichwald ski lifts provide family-friendly slopes as well as ski and snowboard lessons for beginners. The cross-country trails at Rabl-Kreuz are groomed daily for both classic cross-country skiing and skating. Cross-country skiing equipment can be rented directly at the Rabl-Kreuz Hut. In summer, the “Der große Jogl” mountain bike route passes through the Riegersberg district to Waldbach-Mönichwald, specifically to the Mönichwald district.

Local Highlights for Planning Your Trip

Special events in Mönichwald include the traditional Krapfenkirtag, held every year in July and offering more than 100 different varieties of Krapfen. A peacock made of flowers in the park in Mönichwald also invites visitors to enjoy and linger. Alongside hiking and sports, details like these give a trip its own distinctive regional character.

To reach Hochwechsel, a road leads via Waldbach or Mönichwald to the Breitenbrunn or Mönichwalder-Schwaig toll stations, respectively. From there, the gravel road accessible to buses begins its ascent to Hochwechsel, which is 1,743 meters high. Take these different excursion directions into account when looking for suitable accommodation and choose the focus of your trip according to the experiences that interest you most.

Other Places for Orientation

You can find further pages for planning your trip under Bad Waltersdorf, Vorau, Flattendorf, Tiefenbach Bei Kaindorf, Großwilfersdorf, Sankt Magdalena Am Lemberg, Sankt Johann Bei Herberstein and Pöllauberg.

For the higher-level travel overview: Hartberg-Fürstenfeld.