Dobl can be explored through several distinct themes: the history of the Parish Church of “Maria im Dorn,” the historic Gjaidhof and the technical history of the Dobl transmitter. There are also opportunities for physical activity and a cycling tour that passes through Dobl. This lets you discover the town according to your interests—whether you are mainly interested in architectural and local history or want to include physical activity in your travel plans.
Maria im Dorn: Architectural history and tradition
Dobl was first mentioned in a document in 1219 under the historical name “Tobel.” The Parish Church of “Maria im Dorn” traces its origins to the chapel of the Babenbergs’ and later the Habsburgs’ hunting lodge. The surviving core of the church is Romanesque; remnants of frescoes were uncovered in the roof structure. This brings different aspects of the church’s history into focus in the same building: its Romanesque core and the paintings whose remains were found in the roof structure.
Art and religious tradition are also part of the history of “Maria im Dorn.” Empress Maria Theresa arranged for sculptor Balthasar Moll to furnish the interior of the parish church. In the 18th century, the church was a much-visited pilgrimage site. The “Kirtasonntag,” celebrated annually around 12 July, commemorates the solemn enthronement of the statue of the Virgin Mary in 1760 on the new high altar donated by Maria Theresa. The date links the recurring celebration to a specific historical event.
Gjaidhof: two milestones in the history of the castle
It is worth distinguishing between the different periods in the Gjaidhof’s history, too. After its restoration in 1480, it was already referred to as a castle. Around 1570, Archduke Charles had the Gjaidhof expanded into a castle by his court master builder, Dionysia Tade. The name used after its restoration and the later expansion are therefore two separate milestones in the site’s history, not a single construction event.
The Gjaidhof is also associated with an institution in Dobl-Zwaring: the Dobl-Zwaring Library is located in the historic Gjaidhof Castle. This brings together the castle’s history and the building’s present-day use as a library.
The Dobl transmitter and technical history
The Dobl transmitter offers a different perspective on local history from the church and castle. Its transmission mast is 156 metres high and is the tallest structure in Styria. Its height and regional significance make the transmitter a topic in its own right for anyone who wants to discover Dobl through more than its religious and historic buildings.
The landscape also has a historical connection: the forest bordering Dobl later came to be known as Kaiserwald. This link between local history and landscape adds to the architectural and technical themes without combining them into a single tour.
Physical activity and cycling
Dobl’s sports facilities include a motor skills park. The play and activity park is located by the Toni-Fließer sports ground in Dobl-Zwaring. It offers 26 outdoor activity stations across a total area of 4,400 square metres.
A cycling tour is also associated with Dobl: “Flair des Südens 731” follows the Erzherzog-Johann Cycle Route R9 to Dobl and then goes via Muttendorf to the northern section of the Kainachtal Cycle Route R14. The sequence of cycle routes makes the route easy to follow: first along R9 to Dobl, then via Muttendorf onto R14.
Getting to the Dobl Transmitter Museum
To get to the Dobl Transmitter Museum, you can take S-Bahn lines S7 or S61 to Lieboch and then take RegioBus 714 to the Dobl Neue Welt stop. From there, it is about a 700-metre walk. Alternatively, take RegioBus 691 to the Dobl Ort stop; from there, it is also about a 700-metre walk. The similar walking distances make it easy to compare the two options. Check connections and stops before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Gschnaidt, Mantscha, Sankt Radegund Bei Graz, Frohnleiten, Feldkirchen Bei Graz, Graz, Hausmannstätten, Seiersberg.
For the higher-level travel overview: Graz-Umgebung.
