Feistritz am Wechsel: Hiking Trails, Castle and Fortified Church
Accommodation in Feistritz am Wechsel
Feistritz am Wechsel combines forest walks and hiking trails with a distinctive architectural and artistic history. The Feistritztal Cycle Route also passes through the town. If you are looking for a hotel in Feistritz am Wechsel, these varied themes provide a practical starting point for choosing your destination.
Forest Nature Trail and Hiking Trails
The Feistritz am Wechsel Forest Nature Trail is a well-marked woodland walk. Information boards, benches, viewing spots and a relaxation area characterize the route. These features make it possible to pause and take in the surroundings; the information boards add a distinctive element of their own.
Parking for the forest nature trail is available at the village square or directly at the starting point by the relaxation area. This is in the direction of Dorfgraben: drive past the cemetery and turn right uphill at the first bridge. Parking arrangements may change, so check the situation before your visit.
In addition, well-marked hiking trails lead to the surrounding highlands and offer distant views of the Rax, Schneeberg and Hohe Wand. This means there are different kinds of hiking experiences to choose from: information boards and places to rest are part of the forest nature trail, while the views of the three mountain landscapes named above are the main attraction on the trails to the highlands.
Castle, Church and Historical Traces
The Catholic Parish Church of St. Ulrich is a steeply rising Gothic fortified church dating from the early 14th century. The north, east and south sections of the medieval defensive wall remain; on the west side, it adjoins the Neo-Gothic entrance porch. A wall painting from the second half of the 14th century was uncovered in the church. The church, defensive wall and painting illustrate different aspects of this historic ensemble.
Feistritz am Wechsel Castle includes a green courtyard adorned with arcades, a high-vaulted knights’ hall, a castle chapel, a library, Gothic rooms and a castle park surrounded by woodland. Today, the castle serves as a conference center and a venue for music festivals. Its architecture and present-day cultural use give the town two distinct historical and contemporary points of reference.
The Baroque Marian column in the church square commemorates a plague epidemic; it dates from 1713. The statue of the Immaculate Conception stands on a tall Tuscan column, whose pedestal bears reliefs of Saints Rosalia, Sebastian and Roch. The statue of Saint John of Nepomuk stands right by the road leading up to the castle. It holds a crucifix and a palm, regarded as symbols of victory.
Two other buildings can also be dated: a Neo-Gothic mausoleum was built in Dorfgraben in 1892 for Louise Vecseghy, the young lover of Prince Josef Maria Ludwig von Sulkowski, who died young. The fortified Thurnhof dates from the same period as the Gothic remodeling of the castle and church in the 15th century.
Cycling Through the Feistritztal
The Feistritztal Cycle Route passes through Feistritz am Wechsel, Kirchberg am Wechsel and Otterthal before reaching Trattenbach. It follows a dedicated, protected cycle path away from the roads and, given its length and elevation changes, is particularly suitable for families with children. The cycle route therefore differs from the local hiking trails in that it connects several of the named towns and has its own route profile.
For the broader travel overview: Neunkirchen.
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