Weiz: Culture, History and Nature

Weiz offers a range of starting points for planning your stay: sacred architectural history, urban and industrial history, interactive science and nature experiences. Each destination has a different focus. This makes it easy to decide whether you want to spend most of your time exploring historic sites, exhibitions, experiments or trails through the landscape.

Churches and Architectural History in Weiz

The Tabor Church, also known as St. Thomas Church on the Tabor, is the oldest surviving building in the city. It was dedicated to St. Thomas Becket of Canterbury in 1188. Partially preserved Romanesque and Gothic frescoes depict scenes from the Creation, the Passion of Christ and the life of Mary. Both the building’s history and its imagery are central here.

The Baroque basilica on the Weizberg stands at the highest point of the district capital of Weiz. The first church on the Weizberg was built as early as the 11th century; in January 2018, Weizberg Church was elevated to the status of a minor basilica. The Baroque church building is 53.58 metres long and its interior features frescoes by Josef Adam Ritter von Mölck.

The Spiritual Path connects the Tabor Church in the city centre with the basilica on the Weizberg. The pilgrimage route is three kilometres long and has seven stations; walking time alone is 30 minutes. Its two endpoints and the stations give the route its own thematic framework linking the churches.

Urban History, Art and Craftsmanship

The Weiz City Museum presents the city’s history, with a particular focus on the history of the electrical industry in Weiz. The Klingenschmiede Museum offers a different perspective on the area’s past: it is housed in the old Mosdorfer factory complex, dating from the late 18th century, and offers insight into the blacksmithing for which Weiz was known for centuries. Models and hands-on stations take visitors through the process, from the creation of the materials to blade production. The themes are distinct: the City Museum focuses on the electrical industry, while the Klingenschmiede Museum explores traditional blacksmithing and its production stages.

The Kunsthaus Weiz is a venue for art, culture and conferences. A transparent glass structure, it blends into the historic fabric of Weiz’s old town. The upper floor houses an event hall, a foyer and exhibition spaces. The Stadtgalerie in the Kunsthaus Weiz and Galerie Weberhaus host exhibitions throughout the year, focusing on contemporary art. Together with the museums, they offer a wide range of cultural themes, from urban history and craftsmanship to changing art exhibitions.

Interactive Experiences and Nature

The funergyLAB is an interactive science centre for children and adults. Experiments and experiment kits cover topics such as water, heat, technology, sound, air, electronics, electrostatics and optics. Highlights include working with robots, a 4D cinema and a blacklight room. The focus is on hands-on exploration and scientific topics—an experience distinct from viewing historical collections or buildings.

The large adventure forest, partly left in its natural state, extends across Weiz and Mortantsch. Along its 1.7-kilometre route are nine learning and adventure stations with information about the forest and its inhabitants. The trail ends at the large playground in Hofbauer (Augsten) Landscape Park. The 17-hectare landscape park is a local recreation area for residents and visitors to the city. An orchard and picking garden, along with rest areas, add to the opportunities for walking and strolling while taking in the landscape.

The nature trail focuses on the flora and fauna of the city of Weiz and its surroundings, as well as a range of cultural landscapes; information boards bring these topics to life. The Weiz Nature Trail is an easy-to-walk, 11.5-kilometre circular hiking route. Its length, circular layout and stated points of interest provide practical guidance if you would like to include nature experiences in your travel plans.

Discover more travel destinations: Mitterdorf an der Raab, Reichendorf, Municipality of Floing, Grosspesendorf, Fischbach, Fresen, Hofstätten An Der Raab, Sankt Kathrein Am Hauenstein

Go to the main travel overview: Weiz.