Biking, wine tasting and sleeping in the vintner-room
This tremendous cycle tour through Graz, Austria´s gourmet-capital, the "Schilcherland“ and the south styrian "Weinstraße“ (wine road) is perfectly suited for gourmets! You start and finish the tour in Graz, the cultural capital 2003 and the city of design. Make sure that you definitly go for a walk through the cultural old part of the town. Along the Mur and Sulm rivers, this tour leads you to the beautiful "Schilcherland“. There you can visit typical Styrian pumpkin oil mills and try the freshly squeezed pumpkin seed oil. Thoughout this region you can enjoy the special Schilcherwine and other delicious white wines produced in the south styrian "Weinstraße“ region. You can visit the Seggau Convent in Leibnitz and the natural preserve in Grottenhof. The river Mur is constantly at your side on the way back to Graz. To end this unforgettable tour you should have a final drink in the famous "Bermudadreieck“ of Graz.
Archduke Johann is still admired as a great Styrian. Visit the palace with its hunting musem and the wine house in Stainz. In 1229 there was already a church here, which was extended to an impressive monastery. In 1840 it was owned by the archduke Johann and even today it is still in the hands of the archduke's decendants, the earls of Merano. A very special experience is a ride with the "Flascherlzug“ - a very old local train to Preding and back. (not included).
Today the tour will bring you directly into the heart of the "Schilcherweinland“. Schilcher - thats a distinct rose made from the indigenous "Blauer Wildbacher“ grape. This stage is a varied tour through idyllic villages and small forests all the way to Wies / Eibiswald.
After a short detour to Eibiswald, the animated municipality, you continue the tour to the east - through picturesque scenery and small villages. The unique vineyards of the famous "Südsteirische Weinstraße“ accompany you on your way to Leutschach where you will stay for two nights.
Beside the nice hills of the vineyards you will recognize the, for this region typical, pumpkin fields. You definitely should stop at one of the pumpkin seed oil mills to taste the very special pumpkin seed oil.
The way leads through picturesque landscapes and small villages to the wine town Leibnitz. Leibnitz with its beautiful old town is the gateway to the South Styrian Wine Route.
Your trip along the cycle path running alongside the Mur river is very leisurely. Through colorful landscape, cool woods and eugonic fields the cycle path brings you back to Graz. If your legs are already tired from this week, you can take the train instead.