To start our last stage on the Mur Cycle Path in Austria, we first return to the Mur Cycle Path. To do this, we cycle south around the town of Leibnitz on the Roman Cycle Path, which brings us back to the Mur at the Flavia Solva Roman Museum. Here we also switch to the left bank of the Mur. We soon reach an enchanting meadow landscape, which is particularly appreciated in spring when it is in bloom and in summer when it provides shade. At Ehrenhausen with its Genussregal on the opposite side of the Mur and easily accessible via a bridge, we leave the forest again at the aforementioned Mur bridge. From Ehrenhausen, our route continues along the banks of the Mur. There are no orientation difficulties and the route is particularly easy to ride as we cycle through quiet, secluded landscapes. A green alluvial forest accompanies and enchants us. We soon reach another castle. This time it is Spielfeld Castle, which rises majestically from the alluvial forest. The building, which suffered serious damage during the turmoil of the Second World War, has been brought back to life by an initiative since 1987.
The route continues through the Natura 2000 protected area Murauen to Mureck. On the way to Mureck, we pass a special feature: at Weitersfeld, one of Austria's last roller ferries takes guests to Slovenia or from Slovenia to Austria. The roller ferry is particularly popular with cyclists on vacation in the Bad Radkersburg cycling region, as a cycle path leads to Bad Radkersburg on both sides of the Mur. But be careful: don't forget your passport on this tour!
When we arrive in Mureck, we notice something: Mureck, like Wildon, which we like to remember, is a real street village. Unlike in a market town, the houses face the street on the long side and not with their gables. And in Mureck, the next absolute must awaits us: a visit and a stop at the Mureck Ship Mill. Easy to find, it has delighted all Murradweg cyclists for many, many years. The signposting to the Schiffsmühle and from there back to the Mur Cycle Path is excellent.
Via Misselsdorf we now pass the climate protection garden and the bumblebee paradise to the Röcksee lake. It's worth stopping here for a while and taking a dip in the lake before setting off on the final spurt on the Austrian side. Through a beautiful alluvial forest, which sometimes surprises with a few bends, we reach the new Mur Tower. The enormous steel construction is 30 meters high. And its shape is that of DNA, the basis of all life. After climbing the tower and enjoying the view, we “sit up” again and continue cycling through the alluvial forest and past fields lined with oil pumpkins and corn to halbenrain with its enchanting beetle bean cabinet. Do you know the Styrian scarlet runner bean as a sweet temptation? The lovingly furnished “more-than-just-a-museum” uses film and photo material to show the seasonal development of the bean, from cultivation and refinement to culinary processing.
If we have time left, it is worth taking another “detour” here. Namely to Klöch with its vinotheque and adjoining wine museum. The small, charming wine village lies 290 meters above sea level. On a volcanic cone. The journey there takes us along quiet country roads, but beauty has to be earned and there are one or two climbs waiting for us. We have two options: One is a route south of the mountain to Klöch, which is slightly shorter, but the northern option has less severe climbs in store for us. Whichever route we choose, it's worth stopping for a glass of the famous Traminer from the Klöcher Weinstraße afterwards.
Those of you who have decided to continue from Halbenrain to Bad Radkersburg are only a few kilometers away from Bad Radkersburg, where our seven-day tour through the most beautiful regions ends. Now we've earned a coffee, an ice cream, whatever. Or a visit to the Parktherme spa. Or a good glass of wine, and let the many stops, beautiful pictures, mountain pastures, fields and people we have met pass before our mind's eye once again and review them. Let us remember the friendliness and warmth of the Styrians, the new “friend” we have made, the Mur. Which has accompanied us faithfully. Sometimes discreetly invisible, sometimes right by our side.
To stage 8 of the Mur cycle path
Mur cycle path