Hiking route Mühlental - circular trail, St. Kathrein/O. - Touren-Impression #1 | © Oststeiermark Tourismus Hiking route Mühlental - circular trail, St. Kathrein/O. - Touren-Impression #1 | © Oststeiermark Tourismus

Mühlental - circular trail, St. Kathrein/O.

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The Mühlental hiking trail leads through the Lambach valley, where there were once 102 mills. Today, only two of them are still intact.
Somewhat away from the alpine pastures, but still in the centre of the Almenland Nature Park, is St. Kathrein am Offenegg. The village is primarily known as a flower village and highly decorated as such. One of the most beautiful hiking trails is the Mühlental circular trail, which, always near water, leads through forests and valleys. So even in the hot summer you can hike in the pleasantly cool shade.

On the way, several destinations invite you to make an excursion. Flower lovers will make a detour to the Sulamit Garden and let Sissy Sichart guide them through the various gardens at 1,000 m above sea level. Or they can take a walk along the "Duftweg", a herb garden right next to Hotel WILDer EDER. High-percentage spirits, but also juices and jams, await visitors at the Fine Distillery Graf. The speciality here is the excellent rowanberry brandy.

Characteristics

Skill
Fitness

Best season

January
February
March
December

The tour in numbers

medium
Level of difficulty
8,7 km
Route
3:00 h
Time
390 hm
Uphill
390 hm
Downhill
1077 m
Highest point

Map & downloads

More information

In keeping with the name, there are several old water mills along the trail. Immediately after the start at the Karl-Wirt, on the left hand side, is the Lambachmühle, which originally even had two water wheels, but since there is unfortunately no longer a water right, renovation is proving difficult. The Pichler family's Grabenflorlmühle is to be renovated true to the original in the course of the year and will then certainly be a gem again. The most beautiful mill is the completely renovated Winkelbauermühle, for which guided tours can also be booked at the Karl-Wirt.

One attraction of St. Kathrein am Offenegg are the oversized horseshoe figures by Almart artist Sascha Exenberger. There is a Styrian panther with a height of 3.3 metres or its "counterpart", the dragon, with a length of 4.1 metres. And there is also a deer, a snail and a fire salamander. The sculptures welcome visitors to St.Kathrein and connect the Vogelbeer-Panoramaweg with the Mühlental hiking trail.

  • We start at the Karl-Wirt inn in Schmied in der Weiz and follow the "Mühlentalweg" markings.
  • The meadow path along the Lambach leads uphill to the "Unterer Lambacher" mill and farmstead.
  • Now we go uphill to the stop "Lambachbrücke", there we cross the Kathreinerstraße.
  • The trail continues uphill on a paved path.
  • The subsequent forest path leads directly to the "Oberer Lambacher" farmstead.
  • We walk approx. 80 m uphill on the Eibisbergstraße to a small warehouse and turn left there.
  • Now we soon reach the restored "Grabenflorlmühle".Follow the meadow path uphill, past the rebuilt "Braun- und Stucknermühle" (brown and stucco mill) to the "Winkelbauermühle" (angular farmer's mill), which is somewhat off the beaten track. The Winkelbauermühle can also be visited inside by appointment.
  • We continue uphill along the forest path until we reach the junction at the bridge.At the fork, continue straight on to the Hotel Spreitzhofer (sign: Mühlental-Gschaid) and along the asphalted Zeil road to the former Pieber ski and panorama hut.
  • Cross the car park of the hut and walk along a beautiful meadow path to the Steinhauser Lindenkapelle chapel.
  • We cross the main road and walk across the car park to the left up to the "Duftweg" and through this uphill into the centre of St. Kathrein.
  • The "Duftweg" ends at the Hotel WILDer EDER, the way back begins a few metres further on at the municipal office (right next to the church).
  • From here we always follow the signs in the direction of "Schmied in der Weiz via Waldlehrpfad" '.
  • Above the "Hinterkircher" farmstead, walk a short distance on the road to Unterhollerbach.
  • After a few metres on the asphalt road, we turn left (watch out!) and then go straight down to the right.
  • The forest path joins a forest road in the Hollerbachgraben, which always leads downhill to Schmied in der Weiz.
  • When we reach the road, we keep left, walk past the Rüsthaus and then left up the road to the Karl-Wirt starting point.
All connoisseurs are in "chocolate heaven" with Eveline Wild at Hotel WILDer EDER - with a cup of coffee and handmade chocolates!
​​Timetables and travel information can be found at the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) or at Verbundlinie Transport Information. For local transport we recommend the SAM shared taxi East Styria.
SAM stop: WZ3217 In der Weiz - Schmied in der Weiz

 

All information about the region, the places to stop and stay overnight and the excursion destinations can be found at

Eastern Styria Tourist Board
Naturpark Almenland Office

Fladnitz 100
8163 Fladnitz an der Teichalm
T: +43 3179 23000 
www.almenland.at | www.oststeiermark.com

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Mobility Eastern Styria with shared taxi SAM

Find out about maps, hiking brochures and other tour tips at the tourist office. You can also order information material on our website from the comfort of your own home.

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