Rein brings together the history of the abbey and trails that appeal to a range of interests: art and medieval wall paintings, learning about nature in the forest, Kneipp facilities or a stage of a European long-distance hiking trail. When choosing, it is worth not treating these options as interchangeable walks. They differ in subject, number of stations, trail surface and features such as accessibility or suitability for pushchairs. You can start by deciding which focus best suits your visit.
Rein Abbey: History and Art
Rein Abbey was founded in 1129 and is considered the oldest Cistercian abbey in the world. The Gothic Chapel of the Cross dates from a later period: it was built in 1409 and features valuable frescoes and wall paintings from the 15th century. Together, these historical references span the abbey’s founding to Gothic art of the 15th century.
The abbey also includes the Stein.Zeit.Museum. Admission is free during the stated opening hours. Check these hours before your visit if you plan to visit the museum.
Trails with Different Focuses
The “Rein into the Forest” Discovery Trail is a family-friendly circular route. Its ten stations combine an experience of nature with learning about the forest. The stations give the trail a clear educational focus: you can experience nature and the forest not just as a landscape, but along a circular route organised around a theme.
The Rein Barefoot Trail has a different character. It runs for about 600 metres alongside the MĂĽhlbach stream and features hands-on stations and Kneipp facilities. The trail is accessible and also suitable for pushchairs. Its short length and explicitly stated facilities set it apart from trails focused on learning about the forest or exploring a landscape.
The Rein Culture and Nature Trail leads from Rein Abbey to Enzenbach. It has four stations and is accessible. Compared with the family-friendly “Rein into the Forest” circular trail, which has ten stations, it offers a different kind of orientation: Enzenbach as the destination and accessibility are key features here, while the discovery trail is a circular route that combines learning about nature with family-friendly features.
Along the Alpine Longhorn Beetle Trail, information boards provide details about the Alpine longhorn beetle, a protected species. The trail runs near the abbey through a natural forest and meadow landscape, following gravel and forest paths. If you want to pair a particular nature topic with information about the trail surface, both are described here: information about the beetle and details about the terrain.
The Cistercian Trail has a wider geographical scope. Between Rein Abbey and the pilgrimage church of Maria Straßengel, it follows a section of the European long-distance hiking trail, which spans several thousand kilometres. You can walk the trail from either location; public transport is available for both arrival and departure. The choice of starting or ending point, and the trail’s connection to the European long-distance route, give this option a different focus from themed trails with stations.
Getting There and Practical Information
RegioBus route 110 connects Graz with Rein Abbey. Check the current timetable before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Raaba, Sankt Radegund Bei Graz, Sankt Marein Bei Graz, Hart, Ăśbelbach, Gschnaidt, Dobl, KleinstĂĽbing.
For the wider travel overview: Graz-Umgebung.
