Liezen offers a variety of discoveries: The European Central Alpine Trail 02, Austria’s longest hiking trail, crosses the Niedere Tauern and the entire Sölktäler Nature Park. In Gesäuse National Park, the landscape ranges from rugged limestone peaks to fast-flowing white water. There are also significant collections, churches and historic craft sites. When choosing your accommodation, consider whether you are primarily interested in trails, mountain scenery or culture.

Hiking Trails, Mountain Scenery and Winter Routes

In Sölktäler Nature Park, a geological educational trail on Gumpenalm complements the hiking options. The long-distance trail crosses the entire nature park and Niedere Tauern, so there is both a single educational trail and an extensive long-distance hiking route to consider. In Gesäuse National Park, hiking opportunities offer views of rugged peaks, deep gorges and the Enns on the valley floor. The landscape also includes green forests, alpine pastures and mountain huts.

If you prefer exploring on two wheels, Gesäuse National Park has well-marked, designated mountain biking routes. These include the route over Hochscheibenalm, the Ennsbodenweg, the Rauchbodenweg and the Johnsbach Alpine Pastures Loop. The national park also has themed trails, numerous marked paths, guided walks and tours—from an accessible walking path to a challenging climbing tour. This offers a range of different activities without suggesting they are all the same route or require the same level of ability.

Winter is also reflected in the trails: when there is enough snow, the Mößna–St. Nikolai, St. Nikolai–Bräualm and Stein an der Enns cross-country ski trails are groomed in Sölktäler Nature Park. Sufficient snow cover is essential, so check current conditions in advance if you are planning a cross-country skiing visit.

Culture, Collections and Craftsmanship

Admont Benedictine Abbey is home to the world’s largest monastic library, with more than 60,000 books. Trautenfels Castle offers a different perspective on the region: its collection comprises more than 42,000 objects relating to the cultural and natural history of the Liezen district. The castle’s observation tower is 30 metres high and can be reached via 142 steps.

Liezen Parish Church is also notable for its organ. Built in the 1960s by the Dreher & Reinisch organ-building workshop, it has 52 stops across four manuals and the pedal. It is one of the largest organs in Styria. St. Veit Parish Church in Liezen is first mentioned in documents of Admont Abbey around 1150—this is a documentary mention, not a stated construction date.

The Calvary Chapel is a Baroque ensemble at the end of a Stations of the Cross route. From there, the view extends across the town of Liezen and the Enns Valley. The Wöhr Forge tells a different story: it is set up as a smithy, with tools and equipment, in an old townhouse that has been preserved in its original form. The Pesendorfer Cross, a large cast-iron cross, was reinstalled near its original location in 1997 after extensive restoration.

Visits and Practical Information

Gesäuse National Park has visitor centres at Weidendom and in Gstatterboden. The Weidendom visitor centre is the starting point for numerous themed trails and can be reached by public transport via the Gesäuse Bachbrücke/Weidendom stop or Johnsbach im Nationalpark railway station. Check current connections when planning your visit.

For safety reasons, the Altaussee Salt Mines can only be visited as part of a guided tour. The mine visit lasts about 90 minutes and includes around 2.5 kilometres on foot through tunnels made of pure salt. If you are planning a visit, check the current tour conditions.

The local routine also includes the “Bauernmarkt” producers’ and traders’ market in Liezen. It takes place every Thursday from 7 to 11 a.m. in the market square. If Thursday falls on a public holiday, the market is held on the preceding Wednesday.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Aich-Assach, Altenmarkt, Altaussee, Bad Aussee, Bad Mitterndorf, Grundlsee, Ramsau Am Dachstein, Sankt Martin Am Grimming, Tauplitz, Gröbming, Haus, Mitterberg, Pruggern, Schladming, Stein An Der Enns, Sankt Nikolai Im Sölktal, Öblarn, Donnersbach, Donnersbachwald, Irdning, Niederöblarn, Großsölk, Ruperting, Pichl, Aigen Im Ennstal, Admont, Sankt Gallen, Rohrmoos-Untertal, Gössenberg, Mandling, Gaishorn Am See, Schildlehen, Weißenbach An Der Enns, Michaelerberg, Pichl-Kainisch, Stainach, Trieben, Palfau, St. Leonard, Gstatterboden, Lassing Bei Liezen, Ardning, Wörschach, Fleiss, Großreifling, Johnsbach, Geiergraben, Zlem, Weng Im Gesäuse, Landl, Gams Bei Hieflau, Gleiming, Selzthal, Gößl, Liezen, Wildalpen, Rottenmann, Weißenbach Bei Liezen, Kleinsölk, Oppenberg, Tipschern, Gemeinde Lassing bei Selzthal, Pürgg-Trautenfels, Strimitzen, Weyern, Furrach, Puchen, Gatschberg.

Go to the overview of the region: Styria.