An ancient raised bog with a history dating back to the Ice Age, a lookout tower with sweeping views, and traces of several centuries: Neumarkt in Styria brings together natural and cultural attractions that can be explored in many different ways. The municipality is one of the nature park communities of Zirbitzkogel-Grebenzen Nature Park. When planning your visit, it is worth choosing destinations according to your interests—for example, birdlife and water, a hike, or historic sites.
Moorland, Views and Water
The Dürnberg Moor is a raised bog with a history of around 9,000 years, dating back to the Ice Age. From the Oberdorf car park northwest of Vockenberg, a path leads via the Anawander farmstead to the moor and its lookout tower. This combines a nature-focused experience with a specific destination. The 7 Kirchen Blick lookout tower is another attraction offering views: it is 14 metres high and affords views from Zirbitzkogel to the Lower Tauern, as well as of seven churches in the surrounding area.
At Furtner Pond, different interests come together. Swimming and fishing are possible there, and there is also a sunbathing lawn and a bathing jetty. At the same time, the pond serves as a breeding and stopover site for migratory birds. A circular path runs along the bird sanctuary there. When planning a visit, you can therefore choose between water activities and the nature experience along the path, without treating the two as the same.
The Bionikinsel is the starting point for a hike through Graggerschlucht gorge. There are car parks in Mühldorf and in St. Marein bei Neumarkt; the hike takes about two hours on foot from there. This approximate duration helps you plan the outing as a separate activity. Another natural feature is the Zeutschach spring, considered a typical karst phenomenon, with a discharge rate of 90 to 120 litres per second.
Cultural History and Special Insights
The historic sites also offer different perspectives. The origins of Forchtenstein Castle in Neumarkt date back to the mid-12th century. The ring wall was documented as a fortification in 1394. These two dates point to different traces of local history and can be considered as a separate cultural focus when planning your visit.
The “Andere Heimatmuseum” (Other Homeland Museum) in Lind Castle focuses on recent social history. The museum includes a memorial to the Mauthausen concentration camp subcamp that operated from 1942 to 1945. This part of the history offers a more reflective focus for a visit.
The Märchenrätselwald Nature Park, meanwhile, features various fairytale stations, a forest educational trail, a petting zoo and an adjacent water playground. These stations and activities set it apart from the historical exhibitions and nature trails. When choosing what to do during the day, you can therefore consider whether fairytales, natural history, remembrance or outdoor activities should take centre stage.
Regional Produce
At Zeischgl Buschenschank, bacon, salami, butter, Styrian cheese, bread, pastries, salad, cider and schnapps are made directly on the farm. As the establishment may be seasonal, check the latest information before visiting. These products offer a distinct insight into regional food culture; their availability does not mean that every product is served on every visit. Together with the natural and cultural destinations, they offer a range of themes to explore during your stay in Neumarkt in Styria.
Discover more destinations: Krakauschatten, Scheifling, Kulm am Zirbitz, Predlitz-Turrach, Oberwölz Umgebung, Katsch an der Mur, Falkendorf, Schöder.
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