Discover Maria Lankowitz

Maria Lankowitz combines a living pilgrimage tradition with culture, cycle paths and seasonal experiences. The Maria Lankowitz Pilgrimage Church is a special starting point for discovering the town: it features a Baroque high altar, a miraculous image, a treasury and a St. Anthony’s Chapel. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Maria Lankowitz can therefore combine their stay with historical impressions, physical activity and excursions into the Stubalpe landscape.

Culture and pilgrimage in Maria Lankowitz

Maria Lankowitz is known for processions of supplication and pilgrimages. The Maria Heimsuchung Pilgrimage Church also tells the story of the town. It was built in its present form between 1678 and 1681. Another cultural destination is the Castle and Local History Museum. It is housed in the former late Gothic chapel of Maria Lankowitz Castle and offers an opportunity to learn about the town and its past.

A special tradition is the Lipizzaner Almabtrieb, the ceremonial return of the Lipizzaner horses from the alpine pastures. It includes a blessing of the horses in the castle square in Maria Lankowitz. This custom gives a stay a seasonal and regional character without requiring you to plan your trip entirely around a single event. For families, combining cultural visits with an outdoor activity and keeping the daily schedule flexible can be particularly appealing.

Cycling, hiking and routes into the alpine region

For active days, the Altes Almhaus Tour 182 mountain-bike route is available. It starts at the Maria Lankowitz Pilgrimage Church and climbs continuously into the alpine region of the Stubalpe. The route is therefore particularly suited to travellers who are looking for an ascent and a route into a higher-altitude landscape when cycling. Take this route profile into account when planning and choose your accommodation so that it suits your preferred holiday pace.

The Lipizzaner Tour 747 cycling route also has its own distinctive appeal. It includes a detour to the healing Augustini Spring next to the pilgrimage church and the inn. In summer, hiking trails are also part of Maria Lankowitz’s visitor attractions. Another leisure option is the Erzherzog Johann Golf Club in Maria Lankowitz, which has an 18-hole course. This allows you to choose between a cycling tour, a hike, a round of golf and a more culturally oriented day, without experiencing the town from just one perspective.

Summer at the swimming lake, winter on the cross-country ski trails

In summer, a beautiful swimming lake is one of Maria Lankowitz’s visitor attractions. Together with the hiking trails, it offers a range of options for different daily plans: you can alternate between physical activity, time by the water and cultural discoveries. If you are travelling with children, this makes it possible to plan the trip around different interests without scheduling the same type of excursion every day.

In winter, Maria Lankowitz offers downhill ski runs and cross-country ski trails. As a result, the character of a stay changes considerably depending on the season. While the swimming lake, hiking trails and cycling tours may be the focus in summer, downhill skiing and cross-country skiing are added in winter. A holiday apartment or other accommodation in Maria Lankowitz is therefore particularly suitable if you want to plan your holiday around the town’s seasonal activities.

Guidance for planning your trip

On the Bärnbach–Edelschrott section of the West Styrian Way of St. James, the pilgrimage church in Maria Lankowitz can be reached after approximately 30 minutes. This approximate time is provided as a guide for the stated section. The combination of these options makes Maria Lankowitz a destination that can be experienced in different ways depending on the time of year and your preferred daily rhythm.

For comparing other places in this selection, the following destinations are available: Kniezenberg, Salla, Rauchegg, Modriach, Steinberg Bei Ligist, Rosental an der Kainach, Graden bei Köflach and Ligistberg.

For the higher-level travel overview: Voitsberg.