Sankt Martin an der Raab: Roman-era history and borderland culture

Sankt Martin an der Raab lies in southeastern Burgenland, amid quiet, wooded rolling hills at the Austria–Hungary–Slovenia tri-border area. Archaeological traces, border history and the landscape reveal different facets of this destination. Those interested in the past will find both evidence from Roman times and commemorative sites whose significance has changed over the course of history.

Roman Traces and Finds

The remains of a Roman villa have been located in the market town. They include a residential building and several farm buildings. Burial mounds and tomb structures have also been identified and partly excavated on a terrace running east to west; together, they form a cemetery road. The finds reveal different aspects of Roman life: the complex of residential and farm buildings, as well as a separate area for burials.

The Roman Museum on the main square, next to the farm shop, displays the latest finds from the excavations. The exhibition content may change. The three-kilometre Roman Trail features informative stops, providing another way to explore the subject locally.

A Border Point with Changing Significance

The memorial stone at the three-country border point (Austria–Hungary–Slovenia) was erected on the hilltop in 1922. At the time, it symbolised the three successor states of the Habsburg Empire. After the fall of the Iron Curtain and the accession of Hungary and Slovenia to the EU, the border point developed into a shared memorial to international understanding. In Slovenia, it is registered as a cultural monument. The stone’s original symbolism and its later function as a memorial thus represent different periods in history.

Rolling Hills and Early Settlement History

Stoagupf is a volcanic cone. One of the oldest Neolithic hilltop settlements in Burgenland was located here; in the Middle Ages, it was also the site of a core fortification with a simple bank-and-ditch system. These different uses connect early settlement history with a later fortification. A viewing platform on Stoagupf offers views of the surrounding landscape both day and night.

The Augenquelle spring is another special natural feature of the area: its water was tested and found to be drinking water of the highest quality. The wooded hills and the view from Stoagupf shape the landscape.

Chapel, Artists’ Village and Crafts

The wayside chapel in St. Martin an der Raab features two frescoes that most likely date from when it was built, around 1812. They depict Saint Martin and Saint George. The frescoes offer a specific connection to the two saints, alongside a cautiously estimated date.

Cultural history has been made in the studio houses of the artists’ village of Neumarkt an der Raab for more than 50 years. The summer academy offers art courses there, led by internationally renowned artists. Erbe & Saponi offers another hands-on approach to design and crafts: its workshops include soap making, the distillation of aromatic plants and the creation of your own perfumes. Erbe & Saponi also makes plant-oil soaps and natural skincare products from natural ingredients in a former cowshed.

Historic Buildings at a Glance

In Eisenberg an der Raab stands a listed, old clay granary with a thatched roof, dating from the 18th century. It once served as a farm storehouse and can be reached via the “Hexenweg” (Witches’ Trail). The building offers a striking contrast to the archaeological sites: the focus here is not an excavation site, but a historic granary and its former agricultural function.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Maria Bild, Rudersdorf, Neuhaus am Klausenbach, Windisch-Minihof, Eisenberg an der Raab, Heiligenkreuz im Lafnitztal, Mühlgraben, Weichselbaum.

Back to the main travel overview: Jennersdorf.