Murau between castle history, wood and nature

Murau Castle developed from a fortress built in the 13th century. The Renaissance castle was built between 1628 and 1643. Together with the historic squares of the old town and the Wood Museum in St. Ruprecht ob Murau, it highlights the region’s cultural history. The region’s nature and outdoor activities offer further inspiration for planning your trip.

Castle and City History

The castle can only be visited as part of a guided tour. Check the seasonal schedule before your trip. In Murau, two different tours explore the city’s history: the audio tour takes you through the historic townscape and in the footsteps of the Liechtenstein and Schwarzenberg families. The city walk takes in historic squares in Murau’s old town and focuses on the Minnesinger Ulrich von Liechtenstein, Anna Neumann and the House of Schwarzenberg.

Wood, Crafts and Monastic Culture

The Wood Museum in St. Ruprecht ob Murau offers a family experience centered on wood as a raw material. Its grounds cover more than 10,000 m² and provide insights into wood, forests and forgotten things. The Murau Handicrafts Museum brings together a variety of subjects and historical periods: the ground floor focuses on crafts, while the first floor covers early history, city history and trade history. The attic of the Murau Handicrafts Museum is devoted to domestic life and agriculture, as well as household fire prevention. As a visitor and information center, the Wood Museum is a central hub for the Wood World tours and a starting point for many tours throughout the Murau district.

Another cultural highlight in the surrounding area is the Abbey Museum in St. Lambrecht. It displays exhibits from almost every period since the monastery was founded, including Romanesque and Gothic furnishings from various churches, as well as Baroque statues and paintings.

Nature and Outdoor Activities in the Region

In Zirbitzkogel-Grebenzen Nature Park, the Via Natura trail winds through quiet forests, gentle alpine pastures, clear streams and striking mountain peaks. Günster Waterfall is designated a natural monument. Frauenalpe is a year-round recreation area and the local mountain of the town of Murau.

The region offers cycling, mountain biking and gravel biking for cycling trips. The section of the Murradweg cycle route through the Murau area is around 45 kilometers long. The Murtalbahn is a bicycle train, allowing you to cover sections of a Murradweg ride by train. Check operating conditions before setting off.

At the foot of Grebenzen, Lake Auerling lies at an altitude of 1,315 meters; its calm waters are ideal for swimming. Swimming conditions may vary seasonally. For winter sports, the Kreischberg ski area offers 42 kilometers of pistes and 13 cable cars and lifts. These infrastructure details may change; check them against current offerings when planning your trip.

Beer Culture and Regional Information

The brewery’s almost two-hour multisensory experience tour, Brauerei der Sinne, includes audiovisual stations as well as stations that engage the senses of smell and hearing. The tour includes a tasting of various Murau beer specialties. Check the tour packages before your trip. The Beer Pharmacy is located in a building that, according to records, is the oldest in the beer town of Murau.

The regional rail infrastructure includes five stations: in Murau, Neumarkt in der Steiermark, Mariahof, Scheifling and Predlitz. Check current connections before travelling.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Stolzalpe, Katsch an der Mur, Schöder, Sankt Peter Am Kammersberg, Stadl An Der Mur, Sankt Lambrecht, Sankt Georgen Ob Murau, Kaindorf-Süd, Sankt Blasen, Ranten, Peterdorf, Oberwölz Stadt, Niederwölz, Neumarkt In Steiermark, Mühlen, Murau, Predlitz-Turrach, Schönberg-Lachtal, Sankt Marein Bei Neumarkt, Sankt Veit In Der Gegend, Mariahof, Frojach-Katsch, Falkendorf, Einach, Krakauschatten, Scheifling, Wildbad Einöd, Krakauhintermühlen, Zeutschach, Sankt Ruprecht Ob Murau, Teufenbach, Oberwölz Umgebung, Krakaudorf, Sankt Lorenzen bei Scheifling, Kulm am Zirbitz, Laßnitz bei Murau and Winklern bei Oberwölz.

For the overarching travel overview: Styria.