Breitenau – History and Trails

Breitenau can be explored for trip planning through its historic buildings and trails. Gutenberg Castle and the Loreto Chapel are clearly connected geographically; hiking and cycling can also be distinguished by their named routes. If you’re looking for a hotel in Breitenau, you can first consider whether history, hiking trails or a cycling tour should be the focus of your trip.

Gutenberg Castle and the Loreto Chapel

Gutenberg Castle, also known as Burg Gutenberg, was built from 1184 on a rock that juts out into the Raabklamm Gorge. The Loreto Chapel was built from 1691 by Sigmund von Stubenberg as a symbol of Catholicism and named after the Italian pilgrimage site of the same name. It stands on higher ground to the west, above Gutenberg Castle; an avenue connects the two buildings.

The histories of the two places thus have different points of emphasis: for the castle, its period of construction and the rocky outcrop are central; for the chapel, its religious dedication and its connection to Loreto. At the same time, the avenue connects the castle and chapel geographically. Those interested in historic buildings will therefore find a connection both to the history of the castle and to Catholic history.

Hiking and Trails Through Breitenau

The marked 100,000 Steps Trail passes through Breitenau along a downhill section. The Buchberg–Breitenau Trail runs partly through Breitenau and partly through Buchberg. The two descriptions point to different ways of orienting yourself: the first names the direction of the section, while the second focuses on the two place names along the route.

The Raabklamm Gorge is also a hiking attraction in the wider municipal area. It is over 10 kilometres long and offers visitors a special hiking experience. This means that, alongside the named trails through Breitenau, hiking and the gorge are also options to consider when planning a trip.

Cycling and Other Hiking Attractions

The Schöcklblick Tour leads to Burgstaller Höhe and then downhill through Breitenau. It complements the hiking trails with a cycling route that has a named destination. If you group the routes by activity, the difference is clear: the 100,000 Steps Trail is described as a marked trail, while the Schöcklblick Tour is a cycling route.

In the wider municipal area, the Stenzengreith Theme Trail runs along a romantic wild stream in the so-called Mühlgraben. There is a place to rest by a small waterfall. Outside Breitenau, the Schöckl Circuit in the neighbouring municipality runs mainly along well-maintained hiking and forest trails, as well as short stretches of road. These descriptions offer different points of reference: the theme trail focuses on the stream and the place to rest, while the Schöckl Circuit focuses on the different types of paths.

When searching for hotels in Breitenau, you can base your choice on the focus of your trip: the history of the castle and chapel, hiking or cycling. This lets you consider the historic sites and the different routes as separate themes for trip planning.

Discover more destinations: Reichendorf, Pischelsdorf In Der Steiermark, Naintsch, Gemeinde Floing, Oberrettenbach, Strallegg, Miesenbach Bei Birkfeld, Fresen.

Go to the main travel overview: Weiz.