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From the Gentian to the Riesling
Mur Bike Trail |
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 When rivers where the easiest way to travel, traders followed river Mur on their way south from Salzburg to the Slovenian border. Do you like contrasts? Then you will love the start in Lungau - Austria’s Little Canada surrounded by 2000 and 3000 m high mountains, the unspoilt nature on the banks of Mur where more than 200 different bird species found a home and Graz the pulsating, lively capital of Styria. You finish the tour in lovely warm and fertile plains of South Styria with vine-yards, pumpkin fields and thermal spas. Many museums on the way inform about local history and way of life: open air farm museums, a wood and forest museum as well as a beer museum. Welcome to Mur, welcome to Styria – Green Heart of Austria.
Route features:
From the spring to the Slovenian border the Mur cycle path descends by ca. 1700 height on the length of ca. 365 km. From St. Michael to Bad Radkersburg the bike path declines anyway 870 m. This shows, that this bike trip goes the most time downhill. On the first two days several short ups are always followed by longer downhill sections. The Mur Cycle Path is well signposted and fully away from traffic (some short stages on minor roads). Stronger traffic only when entering Graz.
Suggestion We recommend traveling to Lungau – Austria’s Little Canada a couple of days before starting day. Visit the dramatic spring of river Mur. To get there (some short but very steep parts with a gradient of 12% and 19%) we can organize transfers. Cost €50 (up to 4 persons incl. bicycles).
Optional visit to source of the Mur (55km/34 miles) You bike with nearly no traffic along the course of the river Mur in the national park commune Muhr. You will pass the blooming alp meadows until you reach the Muritzen parking place (possibility of the transfer). From here on it goes in partly steep ascents to the Stickler hut. The last part is by foot (about 1 hour) to the spring of the river Mur at 1898 m. Back downhill to St. Michael.
Please note: There are limited materials in English available for this tour. However, it's a linear route along a well-marked bike path -- and very difficult to get lost! Also, English-language sightseeing brochures will be provided.
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1st Day: St. Michael im Lungau
Personal welcome and tour information, distribution of rental bicycles. St. Michael im Lungau used to be a miner’s settlement from the 12th century.
2nd Day: St. Michael – Murau (approx. 55 km/34 miles)
First you pass through Tamsweg (historic market place, pilgrim’s church St. Leonhard). Wood in all the different sorts dominates this stage (forest and wood museum St. Ruprecht). Overnight in Murau (medieval center of brewery, beer museum, castle Obermurau).
3rd Day: Murau – Judenburg/surroundings (approx. 65 km/41 miles)
The river valley narrows on foot of the ragged peaks of Niedere Tauern. Frojach: railway museum; Frauenburg: ruins of the fortress, where troubadour Ulrich von Liechtenstein lived and died; Sauerbrunn: oldest mineral water spring of Styria. Many historic sites in Judenburg: old city tower, ancient fortress, town houses, Magdalene’s church.
4th Day: Judenburg/surroundings - Bruck a. d. Mur/Oberaich (approx.60 km/38 miles)
Maria Buch (pilgrim’s church) and Stift Seckau (Benedictine Abbey). In the past this region be-longed to the most important industrial region of Austria. Many efforts were made to preserve this heritage: carefully maintained old towns, pulsating pedestrian zones and interesting museums: Abbey Göss and Gösser Brewery. Bruck an der Mur: castle mountain, medieval house of corn merchants, town hall.
5th Day: Bruck a. d. Mur/Oberaich – Graz/surroundings (approx. 60 km/38 miles)
Frohnleiten: Murlend park, „rattling wives fountain“; then you immerse into unspoilt nature: old fruit orchards surrounding ancient farm buildings, past fortress Rabenstein, drip stone cave Lurgrotte, open air farmhouse museum Stübing. Graz, capital of Styria, adds the culture to today’s nature: the castle hill with famous clock tower, castle Eggenberg, historic Landhaus – seat of the government and town hall, many museums and a pulsating life on many squares.
6th Day: Graz/Sourroundings – Mureck (approx. 65 km/41 miles)
Castle Seggau: royal room and art gallery for the eye, the 300 year old wine-cellar for the palate. The first introduction of South-Styrian Wine Street. Worth to see in Mureck: the church, town hall and the unique river-mill. Castle Obermureck in neighboring Slovenia is well worth an excursion.
7th Day: Mureck – Bad Radkersburg (approx. 25 km/16 miles)
Water in all forms on the short final stage: river Mur as life line, Lake Röcksee as bathing resort, spring Peterquelle as local mineral water and the thermal springs of Bad Radkersburg (historic old town uniting many different architectural stiles!). Individual departure, return transfer or extra days (we recommend some extra days in our Cat. A hotel, as the entrance fee into Bad Radkersburg thermal spa is included).
Please note that there is no English-language route description available for travelers on this tour. The route is extremely well-marked, and travelers will receive English-language brochures with information on sights along the way. Advance materials with arrival information, hotel lists and pre-tour planning tips are also in English.
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Self-Guided:
Orientation at first hotel
6 overnights in hotels and country hotels of the booked category
Breakfast buffet style
If Half board booked: min. 3-course dinner
Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
Carefully researched route
One set of detailed documentation (maps, route-book, points of interest, important phone numbers) per room
7-day-service hotline
Car park unguarded in St. Michael
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Self-Guided: Daily: 5/1 to 9/25/10
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Self-Guided:
Category A: (4**** hotels & (1) 3***+ guesthouse)
Tour package: €598
Single supplement: €129
Optional dinner (half-board) plan: €125
Category B: (3*** hotels, guest houses & boarding houses)
Tour package: €498
Single supplement: €109
Optional dinner (half-board) plan: €105
Rental bike: €55
Electrically assisted bike: €140
Additional nights:
St Michael:
Cat A:
Double room: €68
Single room: €83
Cat B:
Double room: €45
Single room: €58
Bad Radkersburg:
Cat A:
Double room: €80
Single room: €100
Cat B:
Double room: €49
Single room: €61
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By Air: Salzburg or Munich
Travel to St. Michael i. Lungau by car, connected by A10 Tauern Motorway from Salzburg (toll, tax-sticker).
Parking on unguarded car park in St. Michael i. Lungau free of charge. Hotel car park €5/day, covered space €10/day.
By train or air to Salzburg. Taxi-bus transfer from main station Salzburg into Lungau – Austria’s Little Canada: Monday – Friday at 3:30pm, Saturday 2pm and Sunday 3pm; cost €25 including the bike, special dates for groups from 8 persons available upon request.
Public post bus travels 3 x daily to St. Michael im Lungau. Cost approx. €15 (transport of bicycles only limited capacity).
Return transfer from Bad Radkersburg to St. Michael by Bicycle Taxi Bus (cost €46, payable locally) on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday at 2pm, Sunday at 11am. Duration approx. 4 hours. Please make sure to book your space together with the tour.
Return from Bad Radkersburg to Graz, Bruck a.d. Mur or Unzmarkt (IC4 and IC5): we recommend using the taxi-bus transfer departing from Bad Radkersburg with the possibility to get off at a.m. stations.
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BikeToursDirect does not operate any tours but represents all companies whose tours are listed on this
site. You can book this tour through BikeToursDirect at the same prices you'd pay booking directly through
the tour company. Book this tour by clicking on "Book Trip" button below, or contact us for help planning your tour.
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