Wolfgangiweg - variant 2

Start at the Laßnitz bridge in front of the entrance to the Klaus and cross the Laßnitz. The path runs along Glashüttenstraße past the health park to the first turning right (called Nebelhansl, marking no. 12). Pass a wayside shrine and go left uphill on a driveway and across a meadow path to the next wayside shrine near the farmstead called Barhofer (wooden house with blue shutters). At Barhofer, between the buildings, turn right uphill and walk past a wooden cross up to the state road. Cross this (caution!), walk a short distance on the roadside uphill and turn left into Warnblickweg.

First follow the driveway to the farmstead Fobisch, until the trail shortly before the farmstead turns left and goes uphill over a meadow to the Wieserhoisl Chapel (St. Wolfgang). Then continue straight through the Wieserhoisl farm collective, shortly after leave the driveway and go straight ahead (the left Mariazellerweg 06 also leads up to the Wolfgang church but without Gregorhansl) on a steep forest path uphill to Gh. Gregorhansl (place to stop for a meal). Before Gregorhansl the path turns left and continues on an asphalt road to the turning up to the Wolfgang church – the highest and most scenic point of the hike (767 m, St. Wolfgang ob Hollenegg). Here you should enjoy the view in all directions (Schöckel, Buchkogel near Wildon, Sulm valley, Koralpe, etc.) and the sculptures around the church.

Just after the church, the descent leads down between two fences as an extension of the ascent. After a few minutes, you reach a fork. The descent generally leads right toward the farmstead Meßnerbauer. However, if you want to take a few minutes for the memorial stone to Franz Czerweny (SOLO match factory founder who donated the spring area to the former market town Deutschlandsberg in 1908), take the Mariazellerweg 06 about 100 m to the left. The memorial plaque is placed on a rock above the trail. The path leads back to the fork and straight on until it goes down in the forest to a road near the farmstead Meßnerbauer (signpost).

At this signpost (Kreuzwehstein) don’t turn left but continue straight across the meadow or along the forest edge down to another signpost. Take the right path to the Kreuzwehstein which is located just after the first lattice mast in the forest on the left side of the path (10 steps, hardly marked). This niche in the stone is said to have a healing effect on the spine and relieve back pain (pilgrims).

The path continues down, crosses a forest road, and follows the edge of the forest for a while. Soon the path turns left into the forest, continues over a forest road to the other side of a wide ditch. There (signpost) you have a beautiful view from the forest edge outside over Deutschlandsberg and over to the Patrizi church and Hollenegg Castle on the opposite side. Return and continue downhill until you reach the Klement Chapel (read info board).

The path continues downhill and immediately in a large curve right to an asphalt road. Turn left here to the already visible Patrizi church (St. Patrizius). The hiking trail (marking “F5”) follows the asphalt road past the elementary school and the old fire station, crosses the road at the roundabout and continues toward the former horse stable and Hollenegg Castle (private property). Pass the castle on the left and descend in the forest to the fish ponds and then to B76.

Cross this (watch for traffic!) and enter the forest on the opposite side. Pass the huge spoil heaps of the Koralm tunnel and a forester’s house. Caution, just before the road to St. Martin, cross a small stream (Leibenbach) on a bridge and immediately after go right along the brook to the aforementioned road and cross it (caution!). Now go between two ponds to the GKB railway line (S61), turn 90° left and follow the railway line until the path passes safely under the B76 on the Schwarze Brücke (former Koralmtunnel construction site on the left). On the following Leibenfelder Straße, after about 200 m, turn right into the forest. Then the path crosses the railway line (special caution!) to Alfred-Coßmann-Weg. Follow this to the left. (If you want to reach the station better turn right here to Schwanberger Straße. The station is approximately in line with Schwanberger Straße.)

Follow Alfred-Coßmann-Weg past the railway crossing in Hollenegger Straße until a footpath (fence) leads right to the cemetery (“F5”).

Before the funeral hall, turn left into Burgegger Straße (straight ahead leads to the main square) and follow it to Kornweg. Here turn right again and follow a meadow path to the pedestrian bridge over the Laßnitz (next to the railway bridge). Follow the railway line to the railway crossing at Hietl-Bad. Turn left here and shortly after reach the starting point of the hike.