Seewiesen looks out towards the towering cliffs of the Hochschwab massif and offers several hiking options: the trail through the Dullwitz to the VoisthalerhĂĽtte, the ascent of the Hochschwab, and routes with more distant stage destinations. If you are looking for accommodation here, you can choose where to stay based on the hiking days you have planned. The village also has a church steeped in history and stories about how the landscape was formed.
Landscape and history in Seewiesen
Seewiesen offers a striking view of the cliffs of the Hochschwab massif. The municipal area also includes the Styrian Seeberg. The high-altitude Dullwitz valley, a remnant of the glaciation during the last major ice age, is connected to the route towards Seewiesen. A large lake once shaped the landscape around Seewiesen; its drainage led to the creation of the village. Here, striking mountain views meet a history of the landscape that reaches back to the origins of the village.
Church and local history
St. Leonhard Church stands at the heart of the village and is known as the “Styrian Heiligenblut”. The branch church of St. Leonhard in Seewiesen has been mentioned since 1366; from 1754 to 1996, it was an independent parish. The Catholic parish church of St. Leonhard and its churchyard are protected by law as historic monuments. If you would like to visit the ensemble, check access separately. A monument in Seewiesen commemorates Archduke Johann’s first tourist ascent of the Hochschwab.
Hiking trails and tours
The 01 North Alpine Trail runs from Seewiesen via the VoisthalerhĂĽtte and SonnschienhĂĽtte to Eisenerz. Seewiesen is also an eastern starting point for reaching the VoisthalerhĂĽtte via the Dullwitz. The ascent through the Dullwitz is used in both summer and winter; seasonal conditions can affect safety. The VoisthalerhĂĽtte is therefore a shared reference point for both the trail through the Dullwitz and the longer North Alpine Trail route.
A specific distance and duration are available for the ascent from Seewiesen to the 2,277 m-high Hochschwab: it is 12.3 km long, involves 1,410 metres of elevation gain, and takes around 5½ hours. The alpine route is not recommended in bad weather. These figures give you a basis for planning your day; weather conditions should also be taken into account when assessing the tour.
Stage 04 of the BergZeitReise connects Seewiesen with Mariazell via the Mariazell GrĂĽnderweg. It follows historic trails along an old pilgrimage route. There is a large car park in Seewiesen or at the Seeberg for this stage. Compared with the named destinations of Eisenerz and Mariazell, the Hochschwab ascent is a tour with a stated distance, elevation gain, and approximate walking time.
Getting to the hiking tour
The Aflenz–Bürgeralm–Seewiesen hiking tour can be reached by train to Bruck an der Mur, followed by RegioBus routes 170 and 171 to the Aflenz Kurort Kirche stop. RegioBus route 170 is available for the return journey from Seewiesen. Check the latest travel information before setting off so you can include the connection in your tour planning.
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