Grafenbach stretches from the banks of the Schwarza across Federal Road 17 to Göttschach. The village offers a range of starting points for planning a stay: hiking and cycling trails, leisure activities, and historic sites and customs within the municipality.
Local History and Getting Around
Earlier forms of the name Grafenbach included Gravenbach and Grabenbach; originally, the name meant “the grey stream.” Grafenbach was first mentioned in a document on 22 August 1147. The name and date offer different ways into the village’s history: a linguistic interpretation and the date of its first documented mention.
Hiking Trails, Sports and Play
Grafenbach has hiking and cycling trails. The meeting place is a starting point for hikes. One specific option is Route 1 of the Grafenbach-St. Valentin walking trail: an easy 1.6-kilometre hike with 25 metres of elevation gain. Route 2 passes the Schwarzatal motorsport facility and a mountain panorama sign. This gives you a choice between a route with a stated difficulty level, distance and elevation gain, and one with named points along the way.
Leisure activities away from the trails are also part of the village: Grafenbach has playgrounds and a skate park. A modern outdoor sports facility includes a beach volleyball court. So, alongside hiking and cycling trails, there are facilities and spaces for other leisure activities. Which options suit your stay depends on whether you would rather plan a route or visit a particular leisure spot.
Getting Here and Regional Products
Two bus stops on the B17 in the vicinity of Zones 1 and 2 in Grafenbach provide a connection to Neunkirchen. Bus stop arrangements can change, so check the connection before travelling. The farmers’ market of the market municipality of Grafenbach-St. Valentin is held three times a year at Peter Johann-Platz and offers regional products. As individual dates may change, it is best to check them in advance if you are planning to visit the market.
Cultural Heritage in the Municipality
In St. Valentin-Landschach, the parish church of St. Valentine has a Romanesque core. After suffering severe damage during Turkish incursions, the church was rebuilt between 1717 and 1726. On Margaretenhöhe, a grove of lime trees surrounds the Parapluie and the Schubert monument. These buildings and memorial sites offer distinct points of interest, from a church’s Romanesque core to a memorial ensemble surrounded by a lime grove.
Customs also shape the cultural history of the municipality. Lichtmeß-Singen (Candlemas singing) was recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage in 2018. The Oberdanegg Men’s Choir and singing groups from St. Valentin-Landschach keep the tradition alive. The Bärentreiben in St. Valentin-Landschach is an annual carnival parade held on Shrove Tuesday. If you plan to visit around these customs, it is worth checking the dates in advance.
Other cultural and scenic points of interest include the chapel at Penk, whose exterior wall is adorned with a 1963 fresco, and the Danegger Cross, which offers beautiful views of the Schwarzatal.
Discover more destinations: Pitten, Edlitz, Payerbach, Schwarzau am Steinfeld, Prigglitz, Neuwald, Municipality of Raach am Hochgebirge, Enzenreith
For the wider travel overview: Neunkirchen.
