Preg offers travelers interested in landforms and the history of stone a clear focus. The Mur Gorge in the Murtal valley, the Preg and Gulsen quarries, and hiking and mountain biking options provide different starting points. When choosing accommodation, it is worth first deciding what you plan to focus on: some topics concern Preg itself, while others relate to the surrounding area or the municipality.

Geology at the Mur Gorge

The Mur Gorge at Preg in the Murtal valley is an antecedent gorge. There, the Mur has cut through an already formed serpentinite belt by means of vertical and lateral erosion. The valley’s shape, the river, and the underlying rock are thus connected in a specific geological context.

Another geological feature can be found in the area of the Gulsen and Preg quarries. A fault line running from southeast to northwest is exposed there, significantly deforming the rock mass. The Mur Gorge draws attention to the river and erosion; the fault line adds the direction and deformation of the rock to this focus.

Quarry history and the use of stone

Quarrying at the Preg site dates back to the early 19th century. The Preg and Gulsen quarries extracted dunites and peridotites with varying degrees of serpentinization, as well as bronzites from the Kraubath ultramafic massif. This variety of materials adds a historical perspective on the use of stone to the geological one.

Preg hard rock is used in road, concrete, and hydraulic engineering, preferably in railway construction. Thus, the industrial context of the place encompasses not only the formation and properties of the rock but also its practical uses.

Hiking and a summit destination nearby

Nearby, a hiking route leads from the Almgasthof Spitzer in the Preggraben valley to the Vorderleitenhütte. Regional snacks are served there; seasonal opening may vary. If you plan to stop for refreshments, check whether it is open before your visit.

From the Vorderleitenhütte, the 1,792-meter-high summit of Wildeggkogel can be climbed in about 45 minutes. Treat the roughly 45 minutes as an approximate time estimate for the ascent to the summit from the hut; route conditions may vary. This allows you to distinguish the hike from the summit objective in your planning, without applying the time estimate to the entire outing.

Mountain biking in the municipality

The municipality of Sankt Margarethen bei Knittelfeld has official, well-signposted mountain biking tours and trails. This offer adds an option for travelers who want to get around by mountain bike to the geological themes. Individual routes may change, so check the latest tour information before setting out and choose your route accordingly.

Choose accommodation to suit your stay

When looking for a holiday apartment in Preg, it helps to take the different geographical areas into account: geology and quarry history shape the topics at the destination, the hike to the Vorderleitenhütte is nearby, and the mountain biking options are in the municipality.

For the broader travel overview: Sankt Lorenzen Bei Knittelfeld.