Fürstenstand - head up high

From the Graz Region Tourist Information, walk to Hauptplatz and take tram line 1 towards Eggenberg. Hiking trail 5 leads from there to the Fürstenstand. Follow Nothelferweg through an idyllic residential area and Bergstraße to Schloss Algersdorf, whose roots date back to the 11th century. The path to the hermitage, which is reminiscent of a once popular excursion inn for the people of Graz, starts behind the castle. At the hermitage cave, take a sharp left onto the well-marked hiking trail that leads steeply up the mountain through the forest. Attention, good footwear is a must here, especially if it has been raining! Attention should also be paid to the signs indicating the “Knight Rider” mountain bike trail, which may not be used by hikers. The hiking route itself is well marked and after a long, partly steep uphill section leads you to the Plabutsch and the Fürstenstand at 758 m. The Fürstenstand attracts visitors not only with a mountain restaurant; the lookout that gives it its name is also located there. 

It is therefore advisable to bring your own food. How about, for example, the Graz picnic rucksack – filled with selected specialities from agricultural production? 

There are many ways down, so you’d better not gossip too much, otherwise you might end up taking the forest road towards Thal, making for a beautiful but also signifi cantly longer excursion to Thalersee! Take a rather steep path below the game reserve under the Fürstenstand, follow hiking trail 2a down to Gösting, where the bus stop for bus route 40 is located.

Good hiking boots are recommended for this tour!

• View over Graz
• This tour can be ideally combined with a visit to Eggenberg Palace.

• Bergrestaurant Fürstenstand
• Gasthaus zur Sonne
• Gourmet picnic rucksack from Gut Schlossberg