Styria - Steiermark

State of Styria

The Styria is one of the nine federal states Austria. The capital is GrazThe area includes both high alpine regions (Upper Styria) and hill country (East, West Styria) and merges into the Hungarian lowlands in the southeast.

Regions

  • The Upper Styria are the alpine regions in the north of Styria with the Ausseerland (the Styrian part of the Salzkammergut) as well as the industrial and mining areas of the Mur-Mürz-Furche. Important cities: Bruck an der Mur, Leoben, Kapfenberg, Mürzzuschlag, Judenburg, Murau, Liezen, Schladming.
  • The Eastern Styria is the southeast of Styria and includes alpine regions with fruit growing; the region is also known as the "garden of Austria". Major cities: Hartberg, Fürstenfeld, Weiz
  • The West Styria are the non-alpine regions west of the Mur and in the south-west of Styria. Major cities: Graz, Voitsberg, Köflach, Deutschlandsberg
  • The Southern Styria is mainly in the Leibnitz district, bordering Slovenia. This area is one of the most beautiful and well-known wine-growing regions in Austria. Major cities: Leibnitz, Feldbach, Radkersburg.
Riegersburg Castle, Southeast Styria district
  • The Lower Styria was part of the historical crown land until 1918 and came to Yugoslavia after the First World War and after 1991 Slovenia (Tourist region Štajerska). It corresponds roughly to today's region Podravska as well as small parts of the region Pomurska. Major cities: Maribor, Ptuj, Ljutomer.

places

Other goals

In the Upper Styria is the Erzberg a worthwhile destination where iron ore has been mined at least since the 11th century. Austria's most important pilgrimage site is also worth seeing Mariazell as well as that Gesäuse, a narrow, ravine-like section of the Ennstal between Admont and Hieflau. In the famous stud Piber will the Lipizzaner for the Spanish Riding School in Vienna Bred on the border to Slovenia is the South Styrian Wine Route. The thermal region is also located in Eastern Styria.

background

language

Bad Aussee in the Styrian Salzkammergut in the north-west of the country, which gives this region its name Ausseerland gave

German or Austrian colloquial language is spoken in Styria. In the extreme south there are still small remnants of the autochthonous Slovene ethnic group.

The Styrian dialect in the northern half of the country belongs to Central Bavarian, which is used in Graz and in West and East Styria South Bavarian dialect group. The unmistakable diphtong pronunciation of the vowels is particularly striking e and O as egg and o-u in almost all of Styria; in other federal states the Styrian dialect is also known as barking ("Bäün"). As far as tourism is concerned, the Styrian vocabulary hardly differs from other language varieties in Austria.

getting there

A regional train on the Ennstalbahn in the northwest of Styria
  • train: The Southern runway establishes the connection between Vienna and Graz. There is also the railway line from the east via the Wechsel and Eastern Styria, which is only of regional importance. International trains are also available via the Ennstalbahn of Salzburg led to Graz. There is currently only one railway line from Carinthia to it Upper Murtal (Room Judenburg, Knittelfeld, Leoben); the Koralm Railway, which will connect Carinthia with southern Styria directly, is under construction.
  • bus: Inner Austrian: From the Carinthian capital Klagenfurt there is a fast bus connection operated by ÖBB to Graz and from Vienna, Linz and Salzburg one from West bus] (a division of the company Western Railway) offered long-distance bus connection via St. Michael also to Graz. The company's long-distance bus offers come from Germany Flixbus.

mobility

Tourist Attractions

  • Herberstein Castle. A legacy from 7 centuries of family history holds a real treasure trove of works of art. All around a historic rose garden full of beauty, magic and magic. In the Herberstein Zoo, visitors can observe animals from five continents in spacious enclosures (almost like in the wild). The origins of the zoo can be found in the 17th century, when fallow deer were kept in Austria.
  • For a long time the clock tower was considered the symbol of Graz, but the city has now received a new architectural landmark: Das Kunsthaus Graz, also called "Friendly Alien". This extraordinary building in a central location was planned by the two London architects Peter Cook and Colin Fournier. 1066 acrylic glass elements form the outer skin of the “Friendly Alien”, the Kunsthaus in Graz on the right bank of the Mur. In the evening, it sends moving light signals or writings from its BIX facade over the Mur. It sucks in daylight from the north through the "nozzles" on its top. Needle is the name of the glass viewing platform that spans the Kunsthaus and Iron House to the east. Inside the Iron House you will find the shop, administration and Camera Austria - an institution that has dedicated itself to photography with exhibitions and the magazine of the same name. Camera Austria has been organizing exhibitions since 1975, and the international exhibition program for contemporary photography has been continued at the Kunsthaus Graz since October 2003.
  • Admont Benedictine Abbey. The Benedictine monastery is the oldest existing monastery in Styria. In addition to the largest monastery library in the world, the monastery houses museums, medieval manuscripts and incunabula, among other things. Admont Abbey is also famous for its library, which comprises 150,000 volumes, 1,100 manuscripts and 900 early prints, making it the largest abbey library in the world.
  • Mariazell. Mariazell has been one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Europe since the 14th century. The famous basilica is visited by around 1 million pilgrims from all over the world every year.
  • Due to its location and the strong fortifications, it is built on a volcanic cone and first mentioned in a document in 1138 Riegersburg the most important border fortress in Eastern Styria. 3 kilometers of defensive walls with loopholes, seven gate buildings and eleven bastions made the castle an impregnable bulwark. At the end of the 16th century, the Riegersburg was expanded in the late Renaissance style with the arcades and state rooms characteristic of this period. The castle's treasures include the imposing knight's hall, built around 1600 with magnificently inlaid doors, portal structures and coffered ceiling, and the White Hall, completed in 1658 with an ornate stucco ceiling, a masterpiece of the early Baroque. The Riegersburg has been privately owned by the Liechtenstein family since 1822.

caves

Caves accessible to visitors are:

  • Lurgrotto, at Peggau.
  • Graslhöhle, at Arzberg.

activities

  • Stubenbergsee. Swimming, inline skating, walking or just relaxing; Location: close to the village of Stubenberg.
  • Michlhof riding stables, Zeil 45, 8223 Stubenberg am See. Tel.: 43 (0)3176 8897. Riding for beginners and advanced, sauna, children's playground.

kitchen

The most famous local specialty of Styria is definitely that Pumpkin seed oil. The name "Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil" has been geographically protected by the EU; only pumpkin seed oil produced here is allowed under the name "Styrian pumpkin seed oil PGI" sold. The oil must not be heated and only be used for cold dishes. The nutty taste is unsurpassed and enriches every salad. It is also suitable as a sourvenir to extend the taste of the holiday.

  • Beetle Bean Salad (Phaseolus coccineus) is served with onions and lots of pumpkin seed oil.
  • This is also often referred to as a local specialty Fried chicken (High German for example: "baked chicken"), but that too Viennese Kitchen claimed for itself.
  • The Styrian root meat is a popular classic. It is boiled pork neck with vegetables, served with potatoes and grated horseradish (potatoes and horseradish)
  • The Klachelsuppe (Pork knuckle soup) is made from pork knuckle, carrots, celery, parsley, bay leaves, juniper berries, caraway seeds, grated horseradish, peppercorns, marjoram, sour cream, flour, salt, pepper and a dash of white wine. The pork knuckle is cooked with the vegetables, later the bones are removed and the meat cut into small pieces. The flour is mixed with the cream and stirred into the soup with spices and white wine. The soup is served hot and goes best with Heidensterz.

An overview of "good Styrian restaurants"that must meet certain quality criteria (e.g. in terms of cleanliness and service, of course, but local dishes and wines must also be offered, etc.) can be found under Good Styrian restaurant where you can search for a restaurant by place or district.

Styria is also known throughout Austria for the extensive cultivation of Applesn - almost all apples that are sold in Austria come from eastern and southern Styria; the slogan "Fresh, juicy, Styrian" is known everywhere in Austria.

Sweets

  • The Pentecost strudel is a traditional yeast pastry, especially in western Styria. It is usually baked at Whitsun and is best known for its sweet and piquant taste. Spicy-tasting lovage is added to the sweet yeast dough. In the real sense, contrary to what the name suggests, it is not a vortex.
  • Another well-known Styrian specialty is the chocolaten the manufacture Zotter represent that in place Riegersburg are produced in Eastern Styria and are available in many shops and supermarkets in a large selection. What makes Zotter unique is that they manufacture everything in-house from the first to the last step. The daring chocolate flavors as well as the creative design and packaging have made the company a leading supplier of organic chocolates. These chocolates are also notorious for their daring flavor variations, for example banana curry, cranberry and porcini mushroom or rose and basil (see www.zotter.at)

An extensive collection of recipes from Styrian cuisine is available in the Koch-Wiki at Category: Styrian cuisine to find.

Wine

It is only produced here Schilcher, a rosé wine made from the Blue wildbacher grape is won. The cultivation of the wine Uhudler was forbidden in Austria for a long time because it is a grapevine attached. The Uhudler was cultivated despite the ban in Eastern Styria and the neighboring southern Burgenland, the sour wine is considered a delicacy. For some years now, due to an EU rule, cultivation has been allowed again as a local specialty in some neighboring municipalities in Burgenland, but not in Styria. However, it is also available for private sale here.

beer

Most Styrian beer is brewed as a light lager or pils beer type. One of the most popular types of beer in the region is Märzen. Count among the three most ubiquitous beers in Styria Gösser from Leoben, Puntigamer from Graz and Murauer from Murau.

nightlife

public holidays

There are essentially the same public holidays in Styria as in the rest of the world Austria.

meetingSurnameimportance
January 1stNew Years Day
January 6thHoly Three Kings
variableEaster Sunday
variableEaster Monday
May 1stNational holiday
variableAscension of Christ
variablePentecost Sunday
variableWhit Monday
variableCorpus Christi
15th of AugustAssumption Day
October 26thNational holiday
November 1stAll Saints Day
December 8thImmaculate conception
25 DecemberChristmas day
December 26thStefanitag

Shops and authorities are usually closed on these holidays. The only exception is December 8th, when shops are often open from around 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are also exceptions in individual tourist areas.

In addition, there are a few days on which, for example, there is no school, but which are not generally non-working and on which all shops are open, for example 19 March (Patron Saint Joseph) and 2 November (All Souls' Day).

security

As well as quite Austria Styria is also a very safe country. Beware of pickpockets in particularly busy places (as everywhere in the world).

health

In summer you should be careful of ticks, a TBE vaccination is recommended (especially on hiking holidays and the like).

climate

The climate in Styria is (of course apart from the mountainous region) very mild compared to the rest of Austria, which is largely due to the location south of the Alps.

respect

A certain basic courtesy can only be recommended for a visit to Styria (as well as everywhere else). However, there are no country-specific peculiarities to be observed.

literature

  • Reinhard M. Czar: Mysterious Styria, Graz 2011 on-line

music

Musicians from Styria have had a major impact on Austrian popular music (Austropop) since the 1970s. Prominent representatives of this music genre, who also like to sing in the Styrian dialect, are for example STS or the First General Insecurity. The songs "Fürstenfeld" by STS or "Steiermark" by Gerd Steinbäcker are to be mentioned as unofficial hymns of the country.

Web links

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