WORLD-CLASS BICYCLE TOURS

Cycling Through Styria & Salzburger Land

Following the Wine and Spa Route

 

 

 AUSTRIA - BIKING ALONG THE MUR RIVER CYCLE PATH   ,

 

 

THROUGH SALZBURGER LAND & STYRIA TO THE SLOVENIAN BORDER

 

Following the Wine and Spa Route from Gentian to Riesling Wine

 

When rivers where the easiest way to travel, traders followed river Mur on their way south from Salzburg to the Slovenian border. Do you like contrasts? Then you will love the start in Lungau - Austria’s Little Canada surrounded by 2000 and 3000 m high mountains, the unspoilt nature on the banks of Mur where more than 200 different bird species found a home and Graz the pulsating, lively capital of Styria. You finish the tour in lovely warm and fertile plains of South Styria with vineyards, pumpkin fields and thermal spas. Many museums on the way inform about local history and way of life: open air farm museums, a wood and forest museum as well as a beer museum. Welcome to Mur, welcome to Styria – Green Heart of Austria.

 

The bicycle-path begins beneath a spring and leads through the Salzburger Land and the Styria region to the Slovenian border. Biking along the Mur is a trip from a high-mountain region to a wine-growing region and from the Gentian to the Riesling wine regions. From the secluded farms of Lungau farmers via the pulsating capital of Graz, to the thermal spring region of southern Styria. You bike past castles and ruins, through straits and a. and wide basins on an old trade route towards the south, There is a lot to see: Timber museum, outdoor-museum, breweries and a race-rack near Zelsweg.

 

Tour Profile: From the spring of the Mur river to the Slovenian border, the Mur cycle path, covering a distance of 365 km/226 mi, declines by a total of 1700 meters/ 5625 ft. (difference in altitude). And from St. Michael to Bad Radkersburg the bike path declines another 870 m/2827 ft.. You bike most of the time downhill except some small ascents along the Mur. The trip is mostly on bicycle-paths and occasionally on side streets or country lanes. On the first two days several short ups are always followed by longer downhill sections. The Mur Cycle Path is well signposted and fully away from traffic (some short stages on minor roads).

 

Highlights:

• Murau, a medieval center of brewery with its beer museum and castle Obermurau

• Fraunberg fortress ruins

• Stift Seckau,a Benedictine Abbey

• The Abbey Goss and the Gosser brewery

• Castle Eggenberg

• Castle Seggau with its art and a 300 year old wine cellar

• The South Styrian wine road

• Days spent sampling the many beers and wines from the Gentians to the Reislings

• Graz, the capital of Styria

• Thermal spas

 

 

Click to See:  Tour Price - Departure Days - What's Included - Reserve this tour

 

The Itinerary:

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Day 1 - Individual arrival to St. Michael im Lungau
Personal welcome and tour information, distribution of rental bicycles. St Michael used to be a miner’s settlement from the 12th century.

 

Day 2 - St. Michael – Murau        approx. 55 km/34mi
First you pass through Tamsweg (historic market place, pilgrim’s church St. Leonhard). . Wood in all the different varieties dominates this stage (forest and wood museum St. Ruprecht). Overnight in Murau (medieval centre of brewery, beer museum, castle Obermurau).

 

Day 3 - Murau – Judenburg / surroundings        approx. 65 km/40 mi
Today, you will ride your bike through the straits of the Mur valley at the foot of the Lower Tauern Mountains. In Frojach you will find the Narrow-Gauge Railway Museum, in Frauenburg legendary ruins, and in Sauerbrunn the oldest mineral water source in Styria. Many historic sites can also be seen in Judenburg: the city tower, the former sovereign’s castle, town houses, and Magdalen Church.

 

 

Day 4 - Judenburg / surroundings – Bruck an der Mur / Oberaich       

 approx. 60 km/37 mi
On the fourth day, you will visit Maria Buch (pilgrimage church) and the monastery Seckau (Benedictine abbey). In the old industrial towns, one can clearly see how successful the locals dealt with their past when watching their architectural sites: Well-kept old towns, vibrant pedestrian zones, and interesting museums.
In Leoben you can visit the monastery Göss and the Gösser brewery. In Bruck an der Mur you will find interesting sites such as the Schlossberg hill, the Kornmesserhaus, and the city hall.

 

Day 5 - Bruck a. d. Mur / Oberaich – Graz       approx. 60 km/37 mi
First, you will cycle to Frohnleiten (park Murlend, “Tratschweiberbrunnen” fountain). Then, you will find pure nature along the way: old farmhouses and orchards and high cliffs. You will come across castle Rabenstein, the Lurgrotte caves and the open-air museum Stübing. The capital city of Styria, Graz, has lots of points of interest to offer: the Schlossberg hill with its clock tower, castle Eggenberg, the country house and the town hall, countless museums, and great restaurants.

 

Day 6 - Graz – Mureck approx.      approx. 65 km/40 mi
In the castle Seggau you can visit the Fürstenzimmer (sovereign’s room) and art gallery and enjoy some wine in the 300-year-old wine cellar. This way you can get into the right mood for the South Styrian wine road. In Mureck the church, the city hall, and the ship mill are worth seeing.

 

Day 7 - Mureck - Bad Radkersburg approx. 25 km/15 mi

On the short final stage, you will find water of all kinds: the river Mur will guide your  way, you can swim in Lake Röcksee, you can visit the mineral water spring Peterquelle, and relax in the thermal waters of Bad
Radkersburg (historic old town with many different architectural styles!). At the end of the day: departure/return transfer; or you can extend your trip, which we recommend in our category A hotel, since the admission to the thermal bath in Bad Radkersburg is included in the price.  

 

 Overnight Itinerary:   St. Michael im Lungau -  Murau – Judenburg / surroundings - Bruck an dur Mur / Oberaich – Graz - Mureck - Bad Radkersburg  

 

 

SELF-GUIDED BICYCLE INN TOUR

 

TOUR #23063/B    CAT B - 7 DAYS $750

 

 CATEGORY B HOTELS - 3*** Star hotels, guesthouses and pensions                      Return to Top

Breakfast is included every day

 

Single supplement - $130

 

Half-board surcharge - $160

 

 

TOUR #23063/A    CAT A - 7 DAYS $890                                                                        Return to Top

 

CATEGORY A HOTELS - 3*** and 4*** Star hotels and guesthouses

 

Breakfast is included every day

Single supplement - $160

 

Half-board surcharge - $200

 

Bicycle Rental - $90

 

Bicycles: 21 speed bike with free wheel - equipment: 1 pannier bag  

 

 

ELECTRIC POWERED BICYCLE: You can add the use of an electric motor to do some of the work for you. Our electric bikes increase the pedaling power 3 fold. This way bikers with different sportif conditions can book a bike tour together.

• Electric powered bicycle rental - $230

 Extra Nights:                                                                                                                    Return to Top

 

St Michael - Cat A - $100/person    Single Supplement $25

St Michael - Cat B - $85/person     Single Supplement $20

 

Bad Radkersburg (Admission to the thermal bath Parkthetme entree included) - Cat A - $120/person    Single Supplement $30

Bad Radkersburg  - Cat B - From $100/person     Single Supplement $25

 

 

Departures - Daily from May 1 to September 30

 

Hint: We recommend visiting the dramatic spring of river Mur. To get there (some short but very steep parts with a gradient of 12% and 19%) we can organize transfers. Cost € 55 (up to 4 persons incl. bicycles).

TIP: Trip to the spring of river Mur approx. 55 km
You bike with nearly no traffic along the course of the river Mur in the national park commune Muhr. You will pass the blooming alp meadows until you reach the Muritzen parking place (possibility of the transfer). From here on it goes in partly steep ascents to the Stickler hut. The last part is by foot (about 1 hour) to the spring of the river Mur at 1898 m. altitude. Back downhill to St. Michael. Transfer possibilities depend on the weather and operate from the end of May at the earliest!
Due to Due to varying weather conditions, the information about transfer possibilities to subject to change.

What's Included:
• Personal welcome briefing and tour information on spot
• Overnights in hotels and country hotels of the booked category
• Breakfast buffet
• Half board, if booked: min. 3-course dinner
• Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
• Carefully elaborated route
• One set of detailed travel documents (maps, route description, places of interest, telephone numbers).
• 7-day-service hotline

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EXCLUSIONS - The insurances, the transfers from and to the airport, the drinks, the lunches, the dinners, items of a personal nature such as phone calls, laundry or anything not specifically mentioned as included, admission fees; ferries; insurance; tips and personal expenditures.

 

DOSSIER - On the first day of the tour you will be given maps, road book, fact sheets and tourist information.

 

IN CASE OF BREAKDOWN - We do not intervene for flat tires. However, should any breakdown occur that prevents the completion of the days journey we will make repairs on the road. A phone number will be provided. All other types of necessary repairs that do not make cycling impossible will be repaired at the hotel each night.