Stage 21 From Glacier to Wine North Route Mürzzuschlag - Pretul Rosegger Schutzhaus

We begin this stage of the Hiking Trail From Glacier to Wine in the town of Mürzzuschlag, beautifully situated at the foot of the Semmering. Those wishing to shorten the hike in order to visit one of the town's museums can take the Semmering Railway or a public bus from Mürzzuschlag to Spital am Semmering. Current train and bus timetables can be found here.

From Mürzzuschlag, we first head towards the railway station and pass through the underpass in front of it to reach the Obere Bahngasse. From here, the route follows the southernmost section of the Styrian Railway Hiking Trail, a themed trail that runs towards Spital am Semmering.

Along this section, hikers are accompanied by the legacy of Peter Rosegger (1843–1918), the internationally renowned poet, writer, and keen observer of his time. The trail also introduces visitors to notable contemporaries such as Viktor Kaplan, inventor of the Kaplan turbine, and the actor and poet Otto von Sommerstorff, who died in Spital am Semmering in 1934. In this way, the route offers a fascinating insight into the cultural history of the Styrian part of the Semmering region.

Following the railway line and passing several impressive viaducts, the trail climbs gently through the district of Edlach towards Spital am Semmering. Before reaching the village, hikers have the opportunity to make a short detour to the Robbers' Caves, hidden high above the route in the forest. The Great Robbers' Cave, with the remains of two visible fortifications, can be reached in just five to ten minutes via a somewhat concealed path. According to local legend, robbers once lived here. Historical records confirm that such groups were already mentioned in documents dating from 1220, while later accounts describe how disbanded soldiers used the caves as hideouts during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Back on the main trail, we turn right above Spital am Semmering at the picturesque Zatzka Church, located beneath a small rock face, and continue via the railway station and past Hotel Onkel Fritz into the village centre. At the town hall, we cross the main road and continue towards the Stuhleck. Incidentally, the village owes its name to a hospice founded here in 1160 by Ottokar III on the site of today's parish church.

After passing the church, we follow Stuhleckstraße for approximately 200 metres before turning left onto the Lärchenwald Trail. True to its name, this path leads through beautiful larch forests and passes beneath the Stuhleck chairlift. The route then continues via the Gaißschlager Farm and across the Hocheck to the Karl Lechner House (open on weekends and public holidays from June until the end of October; winter room available year-round; Tel. +43 1 2902409 or +43 676 4464643 during operating periods).

From the Karl Lechner House, the route climbs steadily through shaded forest towards the summit of the Stuhleck and the nearby Alois Günther House (Tel. +43 3853 300). Gradually, the forests give way to mountain pine fields and alpine pastures. Just below the summit, hikers encounter another fascinating piece of Alpine history: the remains of the Nansen Hut, regarded as the first ski hut in the Alpine region.

A final short ascent leads to the summit of the Stuhleck, the highest peak of the Fischbacher Alps, where the Alois Günther House stands beside the summit area. The panoramic views are among the finest in eastern Austria, stretching from the Rax, Hochschwab, and the mountain ranges of southern Austria to the rolling hills of Eastern Steiermark and the Pannonian Plain beyond.

From the Stuhleck, the route continues along the ridge of the Fischbacher Alps towards the Pretul, passing the Peter Bergner Lookout Tower and the Rosegger Shelter House (Tel. +43 3170 522), which can also be reached via a toll road from Ratten in the Joglland-Waldheimat region of Eastern Steiermark.

The following stage continues through the Fischbacher Alps to the village of Fischbach, situated at the foot of the mystical Teufelstein.