Trofaiach combines the Styrian Iron Trail circular hiking route with a history that ranges from archaeological finds to historic buildings. The Trofaiach Museum is located in Stibichhofen Castle in the town centre; educational trails, churches and the Simon Mill add a range of other themes. If you want to choose between outdoor activities, nature and culture on your trip, you’ll find several distinct options here.
Woods, trails and nature themes
Trofaiach lies directly on the Styrian Iron Trail circular hiking route. Two educational trails complement this hiking experience, each with its own focus. The forest educational trail is divided into seven stations that present the forest as a habitat and place for recreation. It is 1.5 kilometres from the town centre and is considered easy to reach. In Kehrwald, the bird educational trail focuses on birdlife: 15 information boards each introduce two species found there. There is also a Kneipp facility on the Panoramaweg.
The educational trails have different emphases: the forest trail explores the forest as a habitat and place for recreation, while the bird trail focuses on specific bird species. If you want to narrow down your interest in nature, you can use these themes to guide your choice.
Museum and city history
The Trofaiach Museum is located in Stibichhofen Castle in the town centre. Its archaeological department houses remarkable artefacts from prehistory and early history. These include finds from the hilltop settlement on Kulm near Trofaiach, dating to around 800 BC, as well as finds from within Trofaiach itself. The department thus connects different find sites with the town’s early history.
The churches also reflect different historical connections. The parish church of St Rupert was first mentioned in a document in 1195. The Kuratbenefizium Holy Trinity is documented as the Salvatorkirche (Church of the Holy Saviour) from 1195. The Church of the Holy Trinity has an organ that is among the oldest in Austria. These details range from the early written record of one church to a notable cultural asset of the other.
The historic Simon Mill lies in the heart of Trofaiach. For many centuries, it played a central role in the lives of the people of Trofaiach as an important food supplier. Its history thus complements the archaeological finds and church records with a direct connection to the town’s everyday life in the past.
In the upper part of the “Kost´n,” school desks and a teacher’s desk bring the school day of the early 20th century to life, along with numerous teaching materials and various educational aids. Trofaiach’s historical perspective therefore ranges from prehistoric and early historical finds to a portrayal of everyday classroom life in the 20th century.
Activities with different focuses
Naturfreunde Trofaiach offers guided hikes in the Styrian mountains. Mountain-bike rides on the trails around Trofaiach take place in summer and during the shoulder seasons. This seasonal information helps you plan mountain-bike rides for these times of year; the guided hikes provide a separate way to explore the Styrian mountains on foot.
Trofaiach also has numerous signposted riding trails through idyllic forests. Reiting Trofaiach Golf Club is an 18-hole golf club. At the Krumpen cross-country ski trail, free parking is available at the trailhead, right by the car park. These activities are quite different: you can plan your choices around hiking, cycling, riding trails or golf, and there is a clearly specified car park at the Krumpen trailhead.
Discover more destinations: Gai, Kammern Im Liesingtal, Niklasdorf, Wald Am Schoberpass, Rannach, Hieflau, Eisenerz, Präbichl
Go to the main travel overview: Leoben.
