The K13 Murauen Trail starts in front of Halbenrain railway station and leads through Austria’s second-largest contiguous floodplain forest. This gives the natural side of the village a clear profile. Halbenrain Castle, St. Nicholas Parish Church and the herb garden offer different cultural-historical and botanical highlights. When planning a stay in Halbenrain, you can weigh up different priorities.
Along the K13 through the Murauen floodplains
The floodplain forest through which the K13 runs has been a Natura 2000 site and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve for many years. These protected-area designations define the route’s landscape setting. Its starting point at the railway station forecourt is clearly specified; when planning your hike, you can choose a route based on the distances offered.
The circular trail has 5- and 8.5-kilometre variants. Both are suitable for pushchairs. If you are planning a shorter route, you can choose the 5-kilometre variant; the longer option covers 8.5 kilometres. The difference between the two options is therefore the route length—not their stated suitability for pushchairs. You can choose according to which distance fits your day’s plans.
The castle and parish church: Halbenrain’s architectural history
Halbenrain Castle was formerly the manor house of the Counts of Stürgkh. Most of the present building dates from the 16th and 17th centuries, and it is regarded as a South Styrian architectural and art-historical landmark. Its former function and construction period tell two different aspects of the castle’s history: its connection to the Counts’ manor house and the creation of most of the present structure.
St. Nicholas Parish Church also offers several points of reference in time. It was first mentioned in a document in 1418; the new Baroque church was consecrated in 1717. The first mention and the consecration of the new building thus mark different stages in its history. The church is a protected monument. A Loreto Chapel containing the burial place of the Counts of StĂĽrgkh was added on its east side. Those interested in architectural history will find here both a long tradition and a tangible insight into the design and use of individual parts of the church.
A botanical highlight
The herb garden in Halbenrain contains more than 150 medicinal, useful and culinary plants. They are arranged into seven groups according to their properties. This layout makes the variety of plants a subject in its own right: alongside the distinction between plant types, grouping them is also part of the garden’s design. The specific selection may change.
When choosing what to focus on, the contrast is clear: the K13 offers two circular trail options of different lengths through the floodplain forest, while the castle, church and herb garden offer different ways to explore Halbenrain’s cultural and garden-related themes. The church’s historical dates help distinguish its two stated stages of development; the castle’s former function and construction period complement one another without meaning the same thing.
Discover more destinations: Neusetz, Nägelsdorf, Weitersfeld An Der Mur, Mühldorf Bei Feldbach, Maierdorf, Stang Bei Hatzendorf, Gruisla, Wetzelsdorf.
Back to the overview of the region: SĂĽdoststeiermark.
