Sankt Martin an der Raab lies in the southeast of Burgenland, in a quiet, wooded landscape of rolling hills at the Austria–Hungary–Slovenia border triangle. Roman traces, border history and scenery give the town its different facets. For your planning, it is worth distinguishing between these points of interest: archaeological sites tell a different story from the memorial stone at the three-country border point or the view from Stoagupf.
Roman Traces and Informative Stops
Remains of a Roman estate, including a residential building and several farm buildings, have been identified in the market town. Roman remains also include burial mounds and tomb structures on a terrace running from east to west. Some have been excavated, and together they form a burial road. Different types of Roman sites stand side by side here: an estate with residential and farm buildings, and an interconnected burial site.
The Roman Museum, next to the farm shop on the main square, displays the latest finds from the excavations. If you are interested in archaeology, you can focus on the finds there; the informative stops along the three-kilometre Roman Trail offer another way to explore the subject. If you are travelling specifically to see a particular exhibition, check in advance which finds are currently on display.
The Three-Country Border Point: From Symbol to Memorial
The memorial stone at the three-country border point (Austria–Hungary–Slovenia) was erected on the hilltop in 1922. At the time, it symbolised the three successor states of the Habsburg Empire. After the fall of the Iron Curtain and the accession of Hungary and Slovenia to the EU, the border point developed into a shared memorial to understanding between peoples. This sequence of events makes the change in its significance clear: the symbol of the successor states was followed by a shared memorial. The three-country border point is registered as a cultural monument in Slovenia.
Rolling Hills and History at Stoagupf
Stoagupf is a volcanic cone with a long history of settlement. One of Burgenland’s oldest Neolithic hilltop settlements was located here; in the Middle Ages, the site also had a core structure with a simple rampart-and-ditch system. The landform and traces of history are closely intertwined here, while referring to different periods. An observation platform offers views of the surrounding landscape by day and by night. The water from Augenquelle was also tested and found to be drinking water of the highest quality.
Chapel, Artists’ Village and Crafts
The wayside chapel in St. Martin an der Raab features two frescoes that most likely date from the time it was built, around 1812. They depict Saint Martin and Saint George. This dating remains probable, rather than certain.
At the artists’ village of Neumarkt an der Raab, cultural history has been made in the studio houses for more than 50 years. Art courses led by internationally renowned artists are held as part of the summer academy. If you would like to plan your trip around a course, check the dates in advance.
Eisenberg an der Raab is home to another historic building: the listed old clay storehouse, with its thatched roof, dates from the 18th century and once served as a storage building for agricultural supplies. The storehouse can be reached via the “Hexenweg” hiking trail. Separately, Erbe & Saponi makes pure plant-oil soaps and natural skincare products from high-quality natural ingredients in a former cowshed. Workshops are also offered on soap-making, distilling aromatic plants and composing your own perfumes.
These themes offer different perspectives to help you plan your trip: Roman finds and the burial road, the changing significance of the border point, views from Stoagupf, and art and crafts. You can choose Sankt Martin an der Raab based on the discoveries that interest you most.
Discover more destinations: Eisenberg an der Raab, Rudersdorf, MĂĽhlgraben, Deutsch Kaltenbrunn, Heiligenkreuz im Lafnitztal, Neuhaus am Klausenbach, Jennersdorf, Windisch-Minihof.
Back to the main travel guide: Jennersdorf.
