Eichberg offers several clearly defined points of interest to help you plan a stay: the observation tower on the forest and wildlife trail, a circular hike with a castle as its destination, and a hiking route between town centres. Also worth exploring are the history of Eichberg Parish Church and the exhibition at Aichberg Castle. When planning your days, it helps to distinguish between these different themes: views, a specific circular route, connections between towns, and cultural history each offer a different focus.
Views from the forest and wildlife trail
The forest and wildlife trail includes a 17-metre-high observation tower made of larch and spruce wood. In clear weather, the view from the forest and wildlife trail’s observation tower reaches as far as the Wechsel, into Burgenland and across the East Styrian hill country. The weather condition matters when it comes to what to expect of the distant views: these destinations are visible in clear weather, not as part of a panorama that is always the same.
The location of the HWW station is also clearly specified: the HWW station Eichberg/observation tower is right next to the entrance to the observation tower’s stairwell. This gives you a specific landmark to use when planning a visit to this area. The tower’s height, building materials and views describe the place from different angles: its height and the wood used relate to its construction, while the distant views take in the landscape. Together, they make the observation tower a distinct point of interest alongside the named hiking connections.
Two hiking trails, different points of reference
The 3 Castles Hiking Trail is a 10-kilometre circular route starting in Eichberg and leads to one of the three castles, Aichberg Castle. This clearly defines its circular format, starting point, length and a named destination. If you are planning a hike with a castle as its destination, this description gives you concrete information to help you choose and plan your time, without specifying a walking time.
The HWW hiking route has a different focus: it connects the town centres of Rohrbach/Lafnitz, Eichberg and Lafnitz. So when choosing, you can ask yourself a simple question: should the circular route with Aichberg Castle as its destination be the deciding factor, or would you prefer a route whose points of reference are three town centres? The two descriptions provide different criteria to help you decide. They show what each hiking option is centred on, without needing to combine the routes into a single hike.
Church and castle history
Eichberg Parish Church was originally built as a Gothic castle chapel behind Eichberg Castle. Aichberg Castle, in turn, was once part of a medieval ring of castles built to defend the eastern border of the Empire. These two historical details concern different subjects: the church’s original function and Aichberg Castle’s former role in the ring of castles. When planning your visit, note the difference in the spelling of the names. The history of the parish church refers to Eichberg Castle; the hiking trail, the ring of castles and the exhibition refer to Aichberg Castle.
Aichberg Castle houses a permanent exhibition entitled “A House and Its Residents”. It adds an exhibition theme to the historical perspective on the castle. Check the latest information about the exhibition before your visit so you can factor it into your plans. This lets you treat your hiking choice and your interest in the castle’s history as separate parts of your stay, rather than assuming they are part of the same route.
A specific travel reference
The HF5403 Eichberg - Friedhof stop is relevant when planning your journey; it is served by the Oststeiermark SAM shared taxi service. Check the booking details before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Sankt Johann bei Herberstein, Großwilfersdorf, Kaibing, Söchau, Karnerviertel, Neudau, Burgau, Sebersdorf.
View the overarching travel overview: Hartberg-FĂĽrstenfeld.
