Around seven altars in the late Baroque-style Baroque church, an outdoor Foucault pendulum and a riverside swimming area with a 40-metre slide represent different sides of Sankt Ruprecht an der Raab. The range of things to see and do includes church art and architectural history, as well as nature and art in the park, water activities, tastings and cycling. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, you can first decide what matters most to you: sacred culture, nature and art, the swimming area, or a stage on the Weinland Steiermark cycling tour?

Church Art and Architectural History

The interior of the Baroque church of St. Ruprecht an der Raab dates mostly from the late Baroque period and includes around seven altars. The Friedensgrotte (Grotto of Peace) lies beneath the steps leading up to the parish church of St. Ruprecht. Kernkapelle was built in 1838. To understand the sacred architecture, it is helpful to distinguish between style and year of construction: the church’s interior is characterised by the late Baroque period, while the year 1838 is the specific point of reference for Kernkapelle. In this way, the furnishings, a precisely located grotto and a chapel with a recorded construction date stand side by side as distinct aspects of the religious heritage, without being grouped together as a single building.

Art Between Nature and Science

The Kunstpark St. Ruprecht an der Raab combines nature and art and has a permanent exhibition space for artists. This gives it a different focus from the sacred buildings: the emphasis is on art in the park and a permanent exhibition space. If you take this combination of nature and art into account when choosing destinations, as well as church art, you can consider the art park a distinct theme.

Another unusual cultural highlight is the outdoor Foucault pendulum. Suspended at a height of eight metres, it illustrates the rotation of the Earth; it is the only Foucault pendulum in the world to have been erected outdoors. This adds a scientific theme to the architectural history. For those interested in science, the pendulum offers a different way to engage with the local culture than the altars, grotto or chapel.

Forest Park, Pilgrimage Tradition and Water Activities

Stefaniequelle spring is located in the forest park and has been known for centuries. People have visited it as a pilgrimage destination since the 18th century. It therefore brings together a natural site and a long religious tradition. This offers a distinct perspective when choosing what to focus on: the spring represents not only the forest park, but also a pilgrimage history that has developed over centuries.

The St. Ruprecht an der Raab river and family adventure swimming area is regarded as the oldest river swimming area in Styria and includes a family adventure pool. Facilities include a large pool, a 40-metre slide, massage jets and a waterfall. These features give the swimming area a clear focus on water activities and distinguish it thematically from the churches, art park and spring. When planning your trip, you can first consider whether culture, nature or the swimming area should shape your stay.

Tastings and Cycling

There are also different options for visits focused on local production. Aronia Manufaktur Köck offers farm visits, tours and tastings by prior telephone arrangement. So if you plan a visit, tour or tasting there, make sure to arrange it by phone in advance. Steirerkraft Kernothek has a different focus: during tours with tastings, visitors can watch the oil millers at work. When comparing these options, you can distinguish between an arranged farm visit and a tour offering an insight into the work of the oil millers.

For cycling visitors, the stage route is another specific point of interest: Sankt Ruprecht an der Raab is a stage stop on the Weinland Steiermark cycling tour. This means that, alongside its cultural, natural and culinary offerings, the town can also be considered a destination on this cycling tour.

Discover more destinations: Birkfeld, Pischelsdorf In Der Steiermark, Fresen, Pircha, Rettenegg, Gemeinde Floing, Ratten, Reichendorf.

For the wider travel overview: Weiz.