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Salzburg - Graz Tour
Mozart & Lipizzans - Individual bike tour - 6 days/5 nights to 8 days/7 nights- approx. 270km by bike
Start in Mozart’s birth town Salzburg and cycle on cycle paths to the mountains – transfer into Lungau – Austria’s Little Canada and Salzburg’s southernmost district – explore the spring of river Mur, the second longest river of Austria. Follow the young mountain river to Judenburg and to Graz, Austria’s second biggest city. Then excursion to Piber, where the white Lipizzan horses grow up before they perform at the famous Spanish Riding School in Vienna. Impressive mountain panoramas, colourful flower meadows and the rivers Salzach and Mur are your companion through flat valleys. Never too strenuous but always varied and interesting you discover a fascinating country. Thermal Spa Köflach adds a taste of luxury, the white Lipizzans, Mozart town Salzburg and Graz, with Italian flair and Austrian hospitality are the main attractions of this cycle tour.
Flat cycling along river Salzach; Mur cycle path is more undulating with short climbs always followed by long downhill sections. Mainly cycling on dedicated and very well signposted cycle paths, sometimes on quiet minor roads or country lanes. From the spring of river Mur a very long downhill section follows.
Parking/Arrival and Departure
Hotel own underground car park in Salzburg approx. 35/55 per week, reservation not possible, free hotel car park only in limited number available.
Bus transfer from Graz – Salzburg: duration approx. 4 hours, cost 56 per person; train from Graz to Salzburg: duration approx. 4 hours, cost approx. 40 per person.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Individual journey to Salzburg
Personal tour information and distribution of rental bicycles.
Day 2:
Salzburg - Golling - St. Micheal (Transfer) approx. 25 km
From Mozart’s birth town cycle along river Salzach on cycle paths to Hellbrunn (castle, baroque watergames) to Hallein (salt-mine, museum of Celts). Past picturesque market towns to Golling. The bus meets you in Golling and transfer to St. Michael im Lungau.
Extra day (optional) Excursion to the spring of river Mur, approx. 55km:
If you enjoy alpine scenery and wish to combine this cycle tour with some true mountain feeling you should add a day to explore the spring of river Mur. Cycle on solitary roads along the gushing green waters of mountain river Mur to National Park village Muhr. Past flushing alpine pastures to Muritzen car park (transfers by National Park bus service available). From here on dirt roads sometimes steep uphill to alpine cabin Sticklerhütte. After well earned refreshments surrounded by magnificent panorama the tour continues with a walk of about 1 hour across green alpine pastures always along the bubbling waters of young river Mur (here still a stream) to the actual spring. The waters gushing out of a rock on 1898 m are an impressive sight you won’t forget. Long downhill cycling to St. Michael.
Day 3: St. Micheal - Murau approx. 55 km
First stop is Tamsweg (historic market square, pilgrim church St. Leonhard). Wood and what men made from it is main topic of the next stage (Wood Museum St. Ruprecht). The cycle day ends in Murau (medieval brewery town, brewery museum, castle Obermurau).
Day 4: Murau - Judenburg/surroundings approx. 65 km
The valley of river Mur narrows steep, green mountains Niedere Tauern rising to your left and to your right. What to see: a railway museum; ruins of medieval fortress Frauenburg; Sauerbrunn – oldest mineral water of Styria; Judenburg: medieval city tower, ancient fortress, old town houses, Magdalens church.
Day 5: Judenburg/surroundingd - Bruck an der Mur/Oberaich approx. 60 km
Maria Buch (pilgrim church) and monastery Seckau (Benedictine abbey). Now you reach the once important industrial area of Austria: well kept old towns, pulsating pedestrian zones and interesting museums. Leoben: monastery Göss and Brewery Göss, Bruck an der Mur: medieval merchant house and town hall.
Day 6: Bruck an der Mur/Oberaich - Graz/surroundings approx. 60 km
Cycle through river meadows and green farm land to Frohnleiten (flower park, medieval town square with „gossiping women’s fountain“), then pure nature along the cycle path: old farms, orchards and along high rock walls. Fortress Rabenstein, the dripstone caves Lurgrotte and open air farm museum Stübing. The capital of Styria, Graz, has southern flair and a long history. The architecture was strongly influenced by the Italian neighbours. Enjoy a warm evening, sitting in one of the many street cafés and restaurants, watching the lively scenery. The clock tower, castle Eggenberg, medieval Landhaus (seat of the government) and the town hall, many museums and the modern Mur-island are just some highlights for the culturally interested.
Day 7 Excursion to the Lipizzan Horses approx. 40 km
By train to Köflach (the new and luxurious thermal spa Therme Nova welcomes you to relax in the warm waters) from there by bike to the world of Lipizzan horses in Piber. Here the famous white stallions, performing in Vienna’s Spanish Riding School, grow up. Fore more than 200 years the stud station has been home for the black foals, growing up to impressive white stallions. Then by bike to Bärnbach (church by Friedensreich Hundertwasser) and Voitsberg back to Graz.
Day 8
Individual journey home or extra days.
- Personal tour information at your hotel
- Overnights in hotels and country hotels of the booked category
- Breakfast buffet style
- Half board: minimum 3-course dinner
- Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
- Carefully elaborated route
- Detailed documentation (maps, route description, points of interest, important telephone numbers)
- 7-day-service hotline
- Transfer Golling - St. Michael im Lungau on Day 2
- Train fare to Köflach
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