A depiction of the Last Judgment from the 15th century on the north wall of the parish church and a World Machine built over several decades provide two very different focal points in Edelsbach near Feldbach. There is also a bridge-building museum, insights into beekeeping, crafts, and trails for hiking and cycling. You can shape your trip around culture, nature or activity, and factor the different route times into your plans.
Church, World Machine and bridge building
The parish church of St James the Elder was built in 1484. A depiction of the Last Judgment from the 15th century is on its north wall. The year the church was built and the subject of the painting provide two different points of reference for its history.
Gsellmann’s World Machine was created in Kaag, in Edelsbach near Feldbach, over 23 years, from 1958 to 1981. It incorporates around 2,000 different objects. Alongside the clearly dated church building, the focus here is on a work that took a long time to create and brings together many individual objects.
The Austrian Bridge-Building Museum opened in Edelsbach near Feldbach in 1998 as the world’s only bridge-building museum. Many old bridges were brought to the museum’s outdoor grounds as part of an “original bridge preservation programme”. At workshops, visitors build their own model bridges under expert guidance. If a workshop is important to your travel plans, check the specific dates in advance.
“Fascination with Sheep – Woolly Delights” is another local craft offering. This craft business in Edelsbach near Feldbach is dedicated to sheep’s wool, natural materials and regional craftsmanship. These craft themes complement the historical highlights of the church, World Machine and bridges.
On foot, by bike and for the Tulip Festival
For a shorter walk, consider the contemporary Way of the Cross from Edelsbach to Wetzelsdorf: it is 1.5 kilometres long. At 12.0 kilometres, the Tulip Trail is considerably longer, is classed as a moderately difficult route, and starts in Edelsbach near Feldbach. It is listed as taking about 3.5 hours. These figures give you a sense of the different time commitments involved; no duration is given for the Way of the Cross. Check the Tulip Trail route details before setting out.
The Edelsbach-Eichkögl cycle route offers another option. It connects the local culinary variety and provides good views along the way. Check the latest route information before setting off.
The Tulip Festival in Edelsbach near Feldbach has been held annually since 2008. If the festival is the reason for your trip, check the specific dates before setting your travel dates.
Bees, gardens and pony rides
The bee garden covers around 2,500 square metres and is laid out in the shape of a honeycomb, with over 20,000 flowering plants. Visitors learn about the life of bees and the beekeeping year, from the development of a bee colony to the honey harvest. During guided tours, they can experience direct contact with bees; the life inside the hive is also explained in an informative way.
Those interested in riding activities will find another local highlight at Ponyspass, which specialises in pony rides for children and equine-assisted educational courses. Together with the bee garden, this offers a different side of the stay from the cultural sites and hiking trails. When looking for a holiday apartment, you could first consider which of these themes you would like to make the focus of your trip.
Discover more destinations: Mühldorf near Feldbach, Maierdorf, Grabersdorf, Größing, Edla, Deutsch Goritz, Oberrakitsch, Neusetz.
Return to the main travel overview: Southeast Styria.
