The so-called “Schwartzturm” forms the core of the Pfeilburg building. It dates from the 13th century and is one of the few surviving medieval residential towers in Styria. The Pfeilburg Museum presents the history of the town and its times across three floors and around 700 square metres of exhibition space. Here, a medieval building core meets a broader perspective on the town and its history—a vivid introduction for anyone wishing to explore Fürstenfeld’s past through specific places.
Traces of the Fortress Town
The Fürstenfeld Fortress Trail brings the restored fortifications to life at 13 stops. It leads to historic remains of the fortifications and offers insights into the history of the former fortress town. Highlights along the route include medieval fortifications and mysterious bunkers from the Second World War. Schloss am Stein extends the timeline: it was built around 1170 by Margrave Ottokar IV as a princely castle in a strategically favourable location on the right bank of the Feistritz. Construction of the Ungarbastei, part of Fürstenfeld’s fortifications, began in 1562.
The main square also provides a clear sense of the town’s layout: it measures approximately 100 by 100 metres. This gives you a sense of the scale of a central square alongside the historic traces of the fortifications.
Art, Town Life and Thermal Water
Artists from the region, as well as from Austria and abroad, regularly present their work at the gallery in the Old Town Hall. Vaulted rooms on the ground floor are used for this purpose. The historic setting and regular exhibitions offer a different focus from the architectural history of the Pfeilburg and the fortifications.
The Thermenland Fountain is a landmark representing the use of thermal water from a depth of 1,950 metres to heat public buildings and numerous homes. It points to an aspect of local life that goes beyond the visible historic buildings. The cuisine at the “Fürstenbräu” brewery inn also combines tradition and modernity.
Routes with Different Focuses
The Fürstenfeld Town Walk starts at Hauptstraße 2a, in front of the tourist information office. It is accessible by train and local bus; both stops are no more than a 15-minute walk from the starting point. The Legends Trail follows a different route: it connects the Pfeilburg with Altenmarkt Parish Church via the Buchwald and was established as a themed trail in 2005.
The Augustinian Circular Trail passes through meadows, fields and quiet stretches of woodland. These routes offer contrasting experiences: a start at a specific point in town, a connection between named places via the Buchwald, and a route through open countryside and woodland. Sections of cycling routes close to town are also used as walking trails.
Play, Exercise and Water
In the heart of Fürstenfeld, Ertlberg offers a large slide, a zipline, a swing and a spacious green area for children. The moat in front of the Grazertor has a playground and an animal enclosure with alpacas and goats. The places offer different attractions: one focuses on play and exercise, while the other also has animals.
Fürstenfeld outdoor swimming pool has 23,000 square metres of water surface and 100,000 square metres of green space. Children can also enjoy a town rally with 13 stops in the town centre and tricky questions about Fürstenfeld’s history. It can be completed individually, on foot and at any time of year.
Discover more destinations: Municipality of Großsteinbach, Radkersburg, Leibnitz, Knittelfeld, Voitsberg, Graz-Umgebung, Mürzzuschlag, Murau.
Go to the regional travel overview: Styria.
