Hohenau an der Raab: Discover nature and culture

Hohenau an der Raab offers tangible points of interest for travelers looking to include nature, hiking, and local culture in their trip plans. Particularly distinctive is the Hohenauer Ochsenhalt: the 125-hectare pasture lies at the foot of the Sommeralm, and hiking trail No. 706 leads to it. The combination of pastureland and a named hiking destination gives your trip planning a concrete focus on nature and hiking.

Pasture and orchids

Ochsenhalt is also characterized by a diverse native orchid flora. This includes lady’s slipper, twayblade, forest hyacinth, red and yellow orchids, and bird’s-nest orchid. The variety of species gives the nature theme a botanical focus. Since flowering varies seasonally, do not assume a fixed flowering time; take the changing bloom into account if orchids are a main reason for your trip.

Hiking trails with different destinations

Hiking trail No. 706 leads to Ochsenhalt. The “Styrian Mariazell Trail” follows the Raab through Passail to Hohenau/Raab and from there climbs steeply to Ochsenhalt before continuing to the Sommeralm. If you are considering this trail, factor the steep climb from Hohenau/Raab into your route planning. In addition to Ochsenhalt, the route also offers the described onward trail to the Sommeralm.

The Raabursprung circuit in the Almenland Nature Park near Passail has a different destination. As a family-themed trail, it runs from the “Waldmühle” at the head of the valley to the source of the Raab; Pozilo and Sprungingerl accompany the route. Its starting point, destination, and themed character distinguish this circuit from the trails to Ochsenhalt. When deciding on your trip, you can therefore consider whether you want to focus on a pasture, the route to the Sommeralm, or the source of the Raab.

Wayside shrine, chapel, and local tradition

The Meierhof wayside shrine at Hausbauer is a clearly defined cultural point of interest: a stone Renaissance wayside shrine with a tabernacle-style structure and a Pietà. It stands about 1 km from the “Hausbauer” farmstead. Those who include local architectural and religious history in their trip plans alongside nature and hiking will find a different focus here than on the hiking trails.

The present-day Maria Kleinheilbrunn Chapel was built in 1824 by benefactors and features a small tower. According to local tradition, the water from the spring at Maria Kleinheilbrunn is believed to have healing properties for eye ailments. This attribution should be understood as local tradition.

The nature and cultural themes also differ in their timing: the orchids’ flowering varies seasonally, while the chapel’s construction year, 1824, offers a fixed historical reference. If you choose your travel dates based on nature, take the changing bloom into account; for a cultural focus, the construction year provides a specific point of reference.

Discover more destinations: Gleisdorf, Ratten, Sankt Kathrein am Offenegg II.Viertel, Anger, Rettenegg, Sankt Kathrein am Offenegg, Fladnitz an der Teichalm, Fresen

For the broader travel overview: Weiz.