Discover Pitten’s history on several scales: archaeological traces on the Schlossberg, exhibits in the museum and stops along a history trail. If you would like to focus more on nature, you’ll also find hiking trails, a bee education trail and a rose garden. These different highlights can help you decide what you would like your stay in Pitten to focus on.
Local history on the Schlossberg and in the museum
A fortified settlement already stood on Pitten’s Schlossberg during the Bronze Age, around 1500 BC. The castle complex there, referred to in written sources as “castellum Butinu(m),” was resettled by the 11th century at the latest. It served as the regional seat of power of the influential Counts of Formbach. The historical record reaches far back, but later centuries are also present in Pitten.
The PIZ1000 – Pitten Regional Museum displays Bronze Age and Roman finds, a deed of donation from the year 869, the Complaint concerning the Nibelungenlied, and the Pitten Corvinus Beaker from 1485. The section on local history covers the development of industry, including mining and paper production, and explores the history of tourism and summer retreats in the 19th century. Finds, the deed and local history offer different perspectives, from early traces to the changes that shaped work and travel in Pitten.
The “Zeitsprünge 4000” history trail offers a different perspective. With five stops, it takes you through 4,000 years of Pitten’s history. While the museum presents a variety of objects and topics, the trail makes the long span of time its own focus. If you’re particularly interested in how the town developed, you can weigh up these two different ways of exploring its history.
Sacred architecture and art
The buildings also offer their own historical highlights. The rare rock church is located just behind Pitten’s Bergkirche and contains 13th-century frescoes. The history of the listed rectory dates back to the 17th century; following extensive restoration, it has regained its early Baroque splendour. Pitten’s landmarks thus represent different periods, each with its own historical background.
At PIZ1000, an art gallery introduces the painter Sepp Buchner (1920–2000), who spent much of his life in Pitten. The Buchner Studio offers another perspective on local art: Christine Buchner exhibits her paintings there, alongside photographs by her son and works by young international artists. Painting courses and seminars can be booked at the studio throughout the year. The two venues have clearly distinct offerings: the gallery focuses on the painter Sepp Buchner, while the studio brings together a variety of artistic works and practical courses.
Hiking views, bees and roses
Numerous hiking trails in Pitten lead up to higher ground and offer panoramic views. For a different way to explore nature, there’s the Pitten Bee Education Trail: ten information panels explain the history of beekeeping, bees as organisms, bee products and bee mortality. The trail also features artistically designed beehives. Nature here ranges from landscape views on a hike to the lives and importance of bees.
The Pitten Rose Garden combines a variety of rose cultivars with a memorable sensory experience. Covering 1,600 square metres, it’s home to more than 100 varieties of roses to discover and smell, including rugosa roses, English roses and hybrid tea roses. Admission is free; visitors can enjoy the roses’ splendour and fragrance. Its size and wide selection of varieties give the rose garden a different character from the bee education trail’s explanatory information panels.
A day at the pool with views of historic Pitten
Schlossbad Pitten is a place for a family day at the pool. Facilities include a long blue water slide and a small slide in the paddling pool. The spacious sunbathing lawn offers lovely views of historic Pitten. Opening is weather-dependent, so check before your visit whether a day at the pool fits your plans.
Discover more destinations: Zöbern, Kranichberg, Municipality of Raach am Hochgebirge, Feistritz am Wechsel, Enzenreith, Municipality of Semmering, Mönichkirchen, Reichenau an der Rax.
Back to the regional travel overview: Neunkirchen.
