Roman Traces at Frauenberg and in Flavia Solva

At Frauenberg near Leibnitz, the Temple Museum takes visitors through 6,500 years of settlement history. The museum building stands on the ruins of the Isis-Noreia Temple; the remains of the Roman temple at Frauenberg are around 2,000 years old. The site is also home to one of the largest Celtic sanctuaries in the entire Eastern Alps. These different time periods show just how far back the history of this place goes, while its finds span more than one era.

Exhibits include the remains of a marble statue of Mercury, 17 sandstone statuettes of a nursing mother goddess, and two Celtic gold coins. The masonry of the Roman temple has been restored, and the museum redesigned. If you would like to explore the site with a guide, you can book a one-hour tour on request—even outside opening hours. Arrange the date in advance.

Frauenberg is considered the seedbed and starting point of the Roman city of Flavia Solva, which lies in what is now Wagna. At the original site, Flavia Solva displays archaeological exhibits from more than 140 years of research. The Roman city was one of the most cultured cities in the province of Noricum and is considered Styria’s most important Roman-era archaeological site. Information is available at several points around the archaeological site; check the latest details before visiting.

Churches and Castle History

Leibnitz’s parish church, St. James’s Church, is considered the oldest building in the city and was built around 850 years ago. Originally, it was a Romanesque hall church and a branch church for the market townspeople. A massive choir tower was added in the first half of the 13th century. Its architectural history thus offers a glimpse of another chapter in Leibnitz’s past.

The pilgrimage church at Frauenberg has its own story: it was first mentioned in a document in 1170 and is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. Its features include frescoes and a Baroque organ dating from the 18th century. A pilgrimage with a procession, rosary prayer, and Mass takes place there on the 13th of every month. If you plan to attend, check the date before your trip.

Seggau Castle sits on a gentle hill amid the vineyards of southern Styria. Its lapidarium preserves evidence of the area’s Celtic and Roman past. The castle’s history also includes the Seggauer Liesl, Styria’s largest historic bell. The Baroque Episcopal wine cellar is one of the oldest and largest in the country. The lapidarium, bell, and cellar offer different perspectives—from early history to wine-making tradition.

Wine Trails, Views, and Nature

At the Silberberg Education Centre, an orchard and wine trail that is always freely accessible winds through the school’s vineyards. Its 31 themed stations include 21 wine stations and eight fruit stations; there are also twelve information pillars. The topics are clearly divided: you can explore the trail with a focus on wine-growing, fruit-growing, or the accompanying information, without needing to allow for a specified walking time or distance.

For a view, a short, easy walk from the Kogel 3 restaurant leads to the Kreuzkogel lookout at an elevation of 498 metres. From there, the panoramic views extend from the Hochschwab and Schöckl to the Koralpe, Pohorje, and the Steiner Alps. Another lookout is the Silberbergwarte, built in 1871: it stands at an elevation of 412 metres and, at three metres tall, is the smallest lookout tower in the region.

Nature, too, has many facets. The Leibnitz floodplain is considered a valuable habitat for numerous animal and plant species. West of the city of Leibnitz, the Laßnitz and Sulm rivers meet at the foot of Seggau Castle. There, floodplain forests, meadows, and wooded field margins come together in a diverse natural and cultural landscape. The river landscape offers a different perspective on the area alongside its archaeological and architectural attractions.

Practical Planning

S-Bahn line 5 connects Graz with southern Styria and stops in Leibnitz, among other places. Check the latest timetable before setting off. It is also worth checking the dates for guided tours and the monthly pilgrimage.

Discover More Destinations

Leutschach, Eichberg-Trautenburg, Leibnitz, Heimschuh, Gamlitz, Ratsch An Der Weinstraße, Arnfels, Glanz An Der Weinstraße, Berghausen, Wagna, Großklein, Kitzeck Im Sausal, Lebring, Straß In Der Steiermark, Ehrenhausen, Sankt Nikolai Im Sausal, Ragnitz, Oberhaag, Kaindorf, Spielfeld, Gleinstätten, Neurath, Wildon, Graßnitzberg, Sernau, Greith, Seggauberg, Zieregg, Pößnitz, Sulztal, Flamberg, Gabersdorf, Gauitsch, Wielitsch, Rettenberg, Eckberg, Schloßberg, Ottenberg, Wolfsberg Im Schwarzautal, Steinriegel, Kranach, Wagendorf, Vogau, Sankt Georgen An Der Stiefing, Fötschach, Einöd, Nestelberg, Langegg, Sankt Veit Am Vogau, Sankt Andrä-Höch, Sankt Johann Im Saggautal, Petzles, Labitschberg, Gemeinde Pistorf, Gündorf, Neudorf im Sausal

For the broader travel overview: Styria.