Via Natura Stage 1: NatureReadingLearn

Welcome to the VIA NATURA - a long-distance hiking trail with a length of around 130 km.

Learn along the way how to proceed in order to uncover the deep secrets of nature and visit the world's first Nature Reading Park. He will show you how philosophers, artists or indigenous peoples around the world have been inspired by the great book of nature.

The first stage of the VIA NATURA leads from Neumarkter Hauptplatz to Mariahof, through forests to the “Green Classroom”, to the NaturLesePark and further over field paths and meadows to St. Marein.

For thousands of years, wise people have taught us that nature is a great book from which we can learn infinitely much. But instead of reading the book of nature, we listened to everything else and spurned the infinite intelligence of Mother Earth. Via Natura wants to bring people closer to nature and nature to people again.

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

The tour in numbers

easy

Level of difficulty

7,6 km

Route

3:00 h

Time

169 hm

Uphill

181 hm

Downhill

923 m

Highest point

Map & downloads

Download GPX data

Download KML data

More information

By car from GermanyFrom Munich via the A8 towards Salzburg. From Salzburg on the A10 Tauernautobahn to St. Michael im Lungau. On the B 96 to Tamsweg, then on the B 95 to Predlitz. The B 97 leads via Stadl/Mur to Murau. There at the roundabout towards St. Lambrecht to Murauer train station and further towards St. Lambrecht. Via Laßnitz near Murau you reach St. Lambrecht, which is already in the nature park. From there continue towards Mariahof and Neumarkt. In Mariahof turn right towards Neumarkt, the street leads directly to the main square.

Arrival from Eastern Austria/HungaryAt the motorway junction in St. Michael near Leoben, take the S 36 towards Klagenfurt. Past Knittelfeld and Judenburg to Scheifling. In Scheifling continue towards Klagenfurt to Neumarkt, via Unzmarkt and Perchau am Sattel you reach Neumarkt.

Arrival from southern Austria/ItalyVia Klagenfurt on the S 37 past St. Veit/Glan, Treibach and Friesach. In Friesach continue towards Vienna, via Dürnstein and Wildbad to Neumarkt. The hiking starting point is in the middle of the main square.

From the starting point on the main square in Neumarkt, where nature reading learning is explained using the example of a chestnut tree, the atmospheric walk leads to Mariahof to the nature reading island, which reports on the “suffering and joy of our earth”. Through a refreshing coniferous forest you pass the romantic Pichl Castle and continue to the viewing balcony of Neumarkt. This is where the historic Graslupp Land opens up for the first time. We continue to the “Green Classroom”, which deals with the diversity of nature. You go to the NaturLesePark, which is a very special resting place thanks to its artistic design and philosophical texts on the subject of nature and people. You walk through the settlement area, meadows and forests, past the district of St. Georgen - with the Romanesque church ruins of the same name - to St. Marein.

You can find out about the numerous fields of creation in which nature inspires people in the NaturLeseGarten in St. Marein.

With the BusBahmBim app from the composite line, timetable information is easier than ever before: all bus, train and tram connections in Austria can be queried by entering locations and/or addresses, stops or important points. The app is available as a free app for smartphones (Android, iOS) - on Google Play and in the App Store.

ÖBB www.oebb.at | Styria connection line www.busbahnbim.at

Public parking spaces are available on the main square, directly at the hiking start point.

Information brochures are available at the various information offices.