Discover Murau: Old Town, Church and Cultural History

Murau can be explored through a range of cultural and scenic themes. Around the main square and in the adjoining lanes, building facades in various architectural styles define the renovated old town. The Parish Church of St. Matthew, the Handicrafts Museum and the Castle Museum each offer a different perspective on the town’s history and culture. There is also the Brewery of the Senses experience tour and activities on the Murtalbahn railway. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus on historic architecture, museum exhibits or an experience on the railway.

Old Town and Parish Church

The Murau Town Trail offers a route through the old town: it starts at the information pavilion, follows yellow signs, passes historic town gates and buildings, and returns via the Mur promenade. The route thus takes in both the lanes and the promenade.

The parish church stands on an artificially widened terrace halfway up the southern slope of Castle Hill. It can be reached from the south via a masonry staircase. Construction of the Parish Church of St. Matthew began above the town in 1284. It is one of the earliest and most interesting Gothic religious buildings in Styria.

The restoration history also offers insight into the building’s past: numerous frescoes were uncovered during interior restoration work from 1939 to 1947. The exterior was renovated in 1971. Restoration of the church interior was completed in 1985, when the old Liechtenstein crypt beneath the north transept was uncovered.

Museums and Castle History

The Murau Handicrafts Museum preserves the cultural history of the town of Murau and the district, safeguarding cultural artefacts for future generations. The Castle Museum at Murau Castle offers a glimpse into life at the castle and the history of the family and estate through its picture gallery, kitchen, Knights’ Hall, Cat Hall, dungeon and chapel.

There is one clear condition for visiting the Castle Museum: it can only be visited as part of the guided tours on offer. Plan your visit accordingly. The rooms and collections mentioned offer different insights, from everyday life at the castle to the history of its family and estate.

A Brewery Experience for All the Senses

The Brewery of the Senses experience tour lasts just under two hours and engages all five senses. It includes audiovisual, smell and hearing stations. As a sensory journey through the world of Murau beer, the tour explains the brewing process from beginning to end. It concludes with a tasting of various Murau beer specialities in the beer cellar.

The duration gives you a clear reference point for planning your time. The tour combines an explanation of the brewing process with sensory stations and a tasting at the end. This sets it apart from the historical themes of the old town and museums.

The Murtalbahn and the River Landscape

One section of the Murtalbahn’s driver experience rides runs from Murau to St. Lorenzen. During the locomotive experience “Next Stop: Childhood Dream,” participants can operate the controls, valves and whistle of a steam train under the supervision of experienced locomotive drivers. Operating days for Murtalbahn experiences may vary; check the relevant dates before your trip. The two activities have different focuses: the driver experience rides include a specified section of the route, while operating the locomotive is the focus of the locomotive experience.

The Mur also offers a distinctive natural landmark: between Murau and Triebendorf, it still has near-natural features, including a gravel island. If you are considering river landscapes alongside architectural and town history, this stretch adds a different perspective to the cultural themes.

When choosing between the activities, you can take their specific differences into account: the brewery tour lasts just under two hours, the Castle Museum can only be visited as part of the guided tours on offer, and operating days for Murtalbahn experiences may vary. These conditions can help you fit the different activities into your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Neumarkt in Styria, Peterdorf, Sankt Lambrecht, Sankt Marein bei Neumarkt, Katsch an der Mur, Krakaudorf, Sankt Blasen, Sankt Peter am Kammersberg.

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