Murtal – Culture, Nature and Special Excursion Destinations

In Murtal, mountain hiking, clear lakes, cycling along the Mur and traditional festivals combine with unusual cultural and adventure destinations. It is best to choose a holiday apartment or holiday home according to the focus of your trip: between museums and historic technology, stargazing, mountain landscapes, cycling excursions and regional specialities, there are various ways to discover the area.

Experiences relating to technology, motorsport and the stars

At the Red Bull Ring, you can book driving experiences with a Porsche 718 Cayman S, an official KTM Moto2 bike or in the off-road area. In the warmer months, a 850 m-long outdoor go-kart track with 9 hp go-karts adds to the range of activities. These destinations appeal to different interests and can be easily incorporated into a travel itinerary that alternates between active experiences and sightseeing.

The planetarium in the Sternenturm offers a completely different experience. A Zeiss star projector and several video projectors are used for the dome shows. A high-resolution film is followed by a live explanation of the stars and constellations. The Sternenturm itself is a 75 m-high, 500-year-old city tower. Access is via a glass-floor lift or 254 steps. City buses on routes 2 and 3, as well as RegioBus services 860, 870 and 871, run to the Judenburg Hauptplatz stop.

Museums with a regional and technical focus

Those who enjoy discovering connections between landscape, history and technology while on holiday will find several notable collections in Murtal. The Military Aviation Museum in historic Hangar No. 8 in Zeltweg displays more than 25 aircraft from the history of Austrian military aviation across 5,000 m². It can be reached via federal road B 317; parking is available at the sports centre.

The Fohnsdorf Mining Museum presents contemporary historical documents and mining exhibits across 1,000 m² of covered exhibition space and 5,000 m² of open-air grounds. Highlights include a 3,600 hp twin double-compound steam engine and a 47 m-high headframe. Visits are only possible as part of a guided tour lasting approximately 1.5 hours; advance registration is requested.

In Judenburg, the City Museum presents the region’s historical development from the Stone Age to the modern era. A panoramic model of the city and a historical exhibition with 16 dioramas make the presentation vivid. The Murtal Museum is located in a former Minorite monastery, one of Judenburg’s oldest buildings. There, you can see archaeological finds from the Hallstatt period, including weapons, jewellery and decorated ceramics, as well as the Strettweg cult wagon. Special exhibitions, workshops and an accessible map of the region complement the permanent exhibition. The Puch Museum Judenburg is dedicated to the Puch brand and the people behind its developments.

Mountain lake, trails and the Mur Cycle Path

Murtal offers a variety of contrasts for days spent in nature. At 2,448 m, the Großer Bösenstein is the highest peak in Murtal. At the foot of the mountain lies the Großer Scheibelsee, a mountain lake in Hohentauern. You can reach it via the toll road to the Edelrautehütte and from there by a short hike. If you prefer forest trails, you can choose the Nature and History Educational Trail in Fohnsdorf: it passes numerous information boards, rest areas and natural wetlands. The adventure hiking trail from Obdach to the St. Anna viewing platform leads to a viewpoint with panoramic views across the region.

The Mur Cycle Path runs through the whole of Styria and also passes the Sternenturm in Judenburg. Murtal also includes quiet Mur floodplain forests. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore focus on a culturally oriented holiday, mountain and lake experiences or cycling days along the Mur.

Regional specialities and traditions

Culinary destinations are also part of planning a trip. Following advance registration, the distillery at Seckau Abbey offers distillery tours and tastings. Café and Confectionery Regner has been baking since 1660. With timely reservation, tour groups can enjoy a coffee break, gingerbread tastings and a film about the production of Seckau gingerbread there. A fixed date in the annual calendar is the traditional Puch Parade in Judenburg, which takes place every year on 15 August.

More places to consider for your destination

If you would like to compare additional places before searching for accommodation, you can access these destinations directly: Bretstein, Weißkirchen In Steiermark, Preggraben, Gaal, Deutschlandsberg, Bruck An Der Mur, Voitsberg and Judenburg.

For the higher-level travel overview: Styria.