Übelbach offers several ways to plan your stay: a water trail with information stations, routes through the landscape and local history, and the Gleinalm with its gentle mountain ridges. When planning, it’s worth choosing your main focus first: would you like to hike, cycle, or focus on culture and history?

Water knowledge and local history

The “WWW-WasserWissensWelt” water-themed trail follows the Übelbach stream and features 14 information boards. Aqualina is also part of the trail: the mascot represents a three-dimensional model of the H₂O water molecule and accompanies visitors along the route. Those interested in the history of the town can find around ten stations on local history along the Historiklehrpfad trail, which follows Sängersteig. The trail presents the subject in an entertaining, child-friendly way.

Another way to explore local history is to visit Übelbach Parish Church. It is a late Gothic wall-pillar church; the Übelbach Madonna, created around 1435/40, is also associated with it. The Old Hammermen’s House is a historic hammermen’s residence that recalls the era of the forges on the Übelbach. Michaelskapelle, in turn, commemorates the historic silver mining industry. This offers a way to include a range of historical themes in your travel plans without limiting them to a single era.

Hikes and trails on the Gleinalm

A marked hiking trail leads from the market town of Übelbach via Krautwasch to the Gleinalm Schutzhaus mountain refuge. The route is about nine kilometres long; it takes around two and a half hours to reach the refuge. These approximate figures provide a guide for planning your time. Hikes ranging from easy to more challenging also start at a refuge near the Maria Schnee pilgrimage church on the Gleinalm. The church is located on the Gleinalm and lies along pilgrimage routes, including the Way of St. James.

The type of trail surface may also be important when choosing a route: the Übelbach Silver Trail runs along forest paths, forestry roads and short asphalt sections. Some parts follow the Historikpfad and Waldlehrpfad trails. The “Park of the Lovers’ Trees” is part of the Bachweg trail. The Drei-Birken-Wanderung hike offers a scenic resting spot beneath three birch trees, with views of Übelbach and the Graz Highlands.

For mountain biking, the Silberbergrunde offers a separate option: it is rated intermediate, is 30.8 kilometres long and leads via Krautwasch and Silberberg. The route alternates between asphalt and gravel roads. Its stated features set it apart from the hiking trails described above; you can take its length and difficulty rating into account when planning your day.

Nature and leisure to suit your interests

The Gleinalm is part of the foothills of the Eastern Alps and is characterised by gentle mountain ridges. In Übelbach, the “Essbare Landschaft” (Edible Landscape) offers accessible, immersive nature, connected with biodiversity and environmentally conscious living. If you’d like to include nature-related themes in your stay, this offers a distinct way to do so alongside the trails.

The leisure complex at Pastner Teich has beach volleyball and a multi-purpose sports court. In winter, the complex serves as an ice rink. The season therefore plays a practical role in choosing leisure activities here. If you have several interests, you can treat culture, hiking and leisure activities as separate focuses rather than planning the same kind of outing every day.

Getting there and planning your accommodation

Übelbach is accessible by S11 train. From Graz, take the S1 to Peggau-Deutschfeistritz and then continue on the S11. Check the current timetable before travelling. This lets you plan your trip around the experiences you’re actually interested in, without presuming a particular location or amenities for your accommodation.

In summer, the vestibule of the Maria Schnee pilgrimage church is freely accessible during the day and can be used for prayer and meditation. Check seasonal access information before you arrive. Together with the range of hiking, cultural and leisure options, this provides a practical basis for choosing Übelbach as a destination that suits your interests.

Discover more destinations: Mühlriegel, Taschen, Sankt Peter, Dobl, Feldkirchen Bei Graz, Gemeinde Gratwein, Mantscha, Hart

Back to the main travel overview: Graz-Umgebung.