Ranten lies on the southern edge of the Lower Tauern in the Ranten Valley. The village square is an important landmark: it is a central starting point for hiking tours and the access point to the cross-country ski trail; it is also where the Faschingrennen takes place. Martin Zeiller is another recurring figure in the village’s history. Cultural themes and outdoor activities can therefore be explored as different aspects of a trip.
Church, Frescoes and Martin Zeiller
The Catholic parish church of Ranten was built around 1100, in the early Middle Ages, to serve the extensive parish area of the Ranten and Katschtal valleys. It features Romanesque and Gothic elements, as well as Baroque architectural features added later. Outside, there is a Protestant fresco cycle consisting of three paintings. Pastor Martin Zeiller Sr. commissioned it amid the tensions of the Reformation era; the Carinthian painter Wenzel Aichler executed the frescoes using the fresco technique around 1560–1570. The three paintings add a distinct Reformation-era layer to the building’s history.
The Martin Zeiller Garden on the village square commemorates the travel writer Martin Zeiller (1589–1661), who was born in Ranten. He is considered one of the world’s first travel journalists and wrote the first German-language travel guide, “Fidus Achates”. In 1989, the municipality commemorated him with the Martin Zeiller Trail. Along the trail are seven milestones designed by artist Alfred Schlosser, bearing travel recommendations from “Fidus Achates” carved in stone. The garden and trail recall his legacy in different ways: one as a memorial site on the village square, the other through travel recommendations encountered along the way.
The Faschingrennen on the Village Square
The Faschingrennen is one of Styria’s oldest customs and was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2011. On Shrove Monday, a large group of men in costume gathers on the village square. At 5:00 a.m., the Fasching runners set off to the sound of cowbells and sleigh bells to drive away winter. On Shrove Tuesday, the festivities conclude on the village square with the Fasching wedding, in which only men take part in the wedding reenactment. The custom thus spans two days: Monday’s early run is followed by the closing wedding ritual on Tuesday. If you would like to experience the Faschingrennen in person, check the event dates before your trip.
Hiking Trails, Cross-Country Ski Trail and Ranten Cycle Route
Ranten has a well-marked network of hiking and horse-riding trails. In winter, an extensive cross-country ski trail network is available. The village square is the central starting point for hiking tours and the access point to the cross-country ski trail; extensive walks are also possible along the Rantenbach stream. There are several ways to get active, from a walk by the stream to hiking and horse-riding trails, as well as cross-country skiing in winter.
The described sections of the Ranten Cycle Route R63 differ: shortly before reaching Ranten, the route follows the Rantenbach stream, away from the main road. Before Tratten, however, the cycle route follows the main road for about 500 m. It is helpful to keep these sections in mind when navigating. As route conditions can change, check the local signs before setting out.
Rottenmanner Pond
Rottenmanner Pond is a newly created landscape pond with a water surface of 3 ha and is an ecologically valuable feature of the landscape. A walk around the lake offers an opportunity for a stroll; you can take a break on the existing benches and enjoy nature. The pond is a good destination for a family outing. A walk around the lake and a relaxing sit-down offer a different kind of outing from Ranten’s hiking trails or cross-country skiing.
Discover more destinations: Falkendorf, Winklern bei Oberwölz, Oberwölz Umgebung, Peterdorf, Oberwölz Stadt, Sankt Peter Am Kammersberg, Laßnitz bei Murau, Predlitz-Turrach.
See the regional travel overview: Murau.
