In the footsteps of Peter Rosegger - The Christmettenweg

Logo In the footsteps of Peter Rosegger - The Christmettenweg
Logo In the footsteps of Peter Rosegger - The Christmettenweg
Tour data
7.69km
801 - 1,172m
Distance
449hm
106hm
Ascent
02:50h
 
Duration
Brief description

This route takes you to the birthplace via short stretches of road and forest paths through forests. In between, the path also leads through meadows that bloom beautifully, especially in spring. The Christmettenweg in the Waldheimat is a popular family hiking destination, especially at Christmas time. In winter, it clearly shows the efforts the people of Alpler made to attend the church service back then.

Difficulty
medium
Rating
Technique
Fitness
Landscape
Experience
Starting point

Church of St. Kathrein am Hauenstein

Route
Pfarrkirche St. Kathrein
Sankt Kathrein am Hauenstein
Hochegger
3.3 km
Ziesleranger
4.3 km


Best season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Description

In his story "On Christmas Night" from the famous book "When I was still the forest farmer's boy", Peter Rosegger describes his first walk to Christmas mass from the Kluppeneggerhof down to St. Kathrein am Hauenstein. The path that the Rosegger family took every Christmas Eve, often in storms and blowing snow, is still taken today on a guided torchlight hike in memory of the Waldheimat's great son.

Directions

However, we do not walk from the birthplace to St. Kathrein as little Peter and his family did every year on Christmas Eve, but rather hike uphill from the idyllic town of St. Kathrein am Hauenstein to the birthplace. The path starts - how could it be otherwise - at the church of St. Kathrein am Hauenstein, Peter Rosegger's favorite church, beautifully located just above the town. The path leads along the Hirschbach stream via the Hochegger homestead to Lendkreuz, where we meet the Rosegger path, which leads from the Schanzsattel through the entire Waldheimat via the birthplace and the forest school at Alpl to the Stuhleck summit. We keep going, from now on always uphill, towards the birthplace, past the farm where Peter Rosegger trained as a tailor with Ignaz Orthofer. As quickly as his years of apprenticeship passed, we also quickly reach the place around which the entire forest home “revolves”, to his birthplace, which is also our destination. We will now take our time and immerse ourselves in the history of the local poet, nature lover, alert zeitgeist and promoter of tradition as well as fighter for the rights and preservation of rural life. Peter Rosegger spent his first 17 years here at the “Vorderen Kluppeneggerhof” until it was clear: He would not become a farmer. The stature is too delicate, the spirit too subtle. His talent was recognized during his tailoring apprenticeship and numerous sponsors made it possible for little Peter to become one of Austria's greatest poets: his life's work included 43 books as well as the publication of the monthly magazine "Heimgarten", which continued until 1953, long after his death Death appeared. With 15 million books and translations in more than 20 languages, Peter Rosegger was, alongside Jules Verne, the most read writer of his time. Alternatively, we can go back to St. Kathrein am Hauenstein on the same route via the Oberer Schlagbauer: on this route we go back along the same path for a part of the route and turn right onto path 737 a few hundred meters after the Lendkreuz. This path takes us to the aforementioned Obere Schlagbauern. Just after this farm we leave path 737 and turn left towards Unterer Schlagbauer, via which we return to our starting point (walking time 3 hours).

Highest point
1,172 m
Endpoint

Peter Rosegger's birthplace

Height profile

Equipment
 

Small backpack with water bottle (+ provisions)

Sturdy shoes

Appropriate clothing - if possible several layers - "onion principle". Rain and sun protectionWalking sticks as required Mobile phone Small first aid kit Route description Before starting the hike, check the possibilities for refreshments, including opening times, or pack appropriate food and drink.
Safety instructions
European emergency call: 112

Emergency call mountain rescue: 140 (if possible please provide GPS data)

Rescue: 144

Fire brigade: 122

Police: 133

A few tips on correct and fair behaviour in the forest: (Source: www.bundesforste.at )

Hikers should avoid visits to the forest about 1.5 hours before sunrise and after sunset, as wild animals are particularly active during this time.

Plastic bottles, handkerchiefs, cigarette butts etc. have no place in the forest! Please make sure that you do not leave any rubbish in the forest.

Camping and lighting fires are strictly forbidden in the forest!

In principle, every person is allowed to pick 2 kg of mushrooms and berries per day for personal use. It is only prohibited if the forest owner expressly forbids it.

Tips

On Christmas Eve, a bus transfer is organized from St. Kathrein am Hauenstein to Alpl, from where the Christmettenweg can be walked. For more information, call +43 (0) 3336 / 20255! Rosegger Card: with one card you can visit all of the memorial sites of the great local poet! Further information can be found at www.steiermark.com/rosegger

Additional information
You can find information about the region, places to stop and stay overnight, excursion destinations, etc. here:

 

Eastern Styria Tourism Association

 

Joglland-Waldheimat office

8255 St. Jakob im Walde

Tel.: 03336/20255

info@joglland.at

Joglland-Waldheimat

Eastern Styria

current weather

Mobility Eastern Styria with shared taxi SAM


Directions
The B72 takes you directly to St. Kathrein am Hauenstein from both the Mürz (S6 Semmering Expressway) and Feistritztal Further information: village square, St. Kathrein am Hauenstein
Public transportation
Timetables and travel information can be found at Österreichische Bundesbahnen (ÖBB) or at Verkehrsauskunft Verbundlinie. For local transportation we recommend the SAM-Sammeltaxi Oststeiermark.
Parking

A parking space is available directly at the central hiking starting point on the village square or at the church above the square in St. Kathrein am Hauenstein


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General info

Refreshment stop
Cultural/Historical
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