Flattendorf: History and St. Anna am Masenberg
Accommodation in Flattendorf
Flattendorf combines early local history with sacred architecture and a specific connection to cycling routes. For those interested in culture, the village’s founding history and, above all, the Church of St. Anna am Masenberg are the main attractions. The Ökotour route also passes through the village via Schildbach and Kaindorf. When choosing a destination based on historical themes and possible activities, you can explore architectural history, an old pilgrimage route and a named e-bike tour here.
Local History and the Origins of the Name
The village was founded around shortly after 1130. Its founding is attributed to the Lords of Stubenberg; Flado, probably a knight of the Stubenbergs, is considered its founder and the source of its name. Flattendorf is first mentioned in a document in 1270, under the name Vlattendorf. The approximate founding date and the first documented mention are different historical reference points: 1270 marks the written record, not the stated year of foundation. This distinction separates the founding tradition from the first written record in time.
Church of St. Anna am Masenberg
The Gothic Church of St. Anna am Masenberg was built between 1453 and 1499. Around 1710, a Baroque bell tower was added. The Baroque high altar was donated by the Counts of Herberstein in 1676. It houses the Gothic statue of grace “Anna Selbdritt” (Saint Anne with the Virgin Mary and Child), depicting Anne, Mary and Jesus. The different styles are important to its art-historical classification: the church building and statue of grace are Gothic, while the high altar and bell tower are Baroque. The building’s history is therefore not confined to a single period of construction, but spans several periods separated in time.
The church lies halfway along the old pilgrimage route between Hartberg and Pöllauberg. Its location adds a historical connection to the pilgrimage route to its architectural history. Flattendorf’s local chapel is also protected as a monument by ordinance. Alongside St. Anna, this makes another sacred landmark and its protected status part of Flattendorf’s local history.
Cycling and Hiking
The Ă–kotour route via Schildbach and Kaindorf passes through Flattendorf and is suitable for e-bike riders. In Hartberg Umgebung, 35 kilometres of marked hiking trails pass Villa Rustica, Neuberg Castle and its castle chapel, and the pilgrimage church of St. Anna. The routes differ in their mode of travel and points of interest: the e-bike tour specifically passes through Flattendorf, while the hiking trails in Hartberg Umgebung pass the named cultural attractions. This gives you a choice between a cycling route directly connected to the village and marked hiking trails with historical points of interest.
Regional Culture and Cuisine
Around ten Buschenschank wine taverns in Hartberg Umgebung welcome visitors with excellent wines and authentic East Styrian culinary specialities. The Orgelwandern tours in Pöllauer Tal Nature Park and the ApfelLand-Stubenbergsee region offer a different way to explore the area: individual tours can be combined into hikes featuring art, culture and cuisine. A culinary visit to a Buschenschank wine tavern and hikes that bring together culture and cuisine are distinct regional experiences.
Discover more destinations: Eichberg, Sankt Stefan, Siebenbrunn, Obertiefenbach, Penzendorf, Schaueregg, Pöllau, Sebersdorf
Back to the main travel overview: Hartberg-FĂĽrstenfeld.
