Autumn bike tour in ApfelLand-Stubenbergsee

"A journey to paradise..." is how the well-known local poet Peter Rossegger described his trip to Puch in his days.

Cycle routes ranging from family-friendly to sporty lead you through the colorful autumn landscape, and make room for enjoying the variety of regional delicacies in this time of abundance.

Numerous farms selling farm-gate products await you along the tour. Countless "farm-to-table self-service stands" also invite you to taste and buy products from Austria's garden.

At the edge of the forest, we turn right and ride down the WZ16 to Feistritz. Here we turn right along the WZ16 or R8/Feistritzal cycle path along the river to the Stubenbergsee lake. Fire salamanders, grass snakes and tree frogs scurry along the cycle path, while wagtails, chaffinches and green woodpeckers give a concert in the treetops.

Once we reach Lake Stubenbergsee, we should definitely plan a break to enjoy Austria's warmest bathing lake with a wide range of leisure activities.

The route continues along the Feistritztal cycle path R8 with a small ascent to St. Johann bei Herberstein. The beautifully designed zoo with its historic Herberstein Castle is also worth a visit.

We continue left across the parking lot (slightly downhill) and then turn right again before the exit onto the R8, which leads us down to the Feistritz.

Shortly before the entrance to the castle administration, we turn left over the bridge and continue on the R8 to the bridge in St. Johann bei Herberstein.

At the bridge in St. Johann, we keep right and continue along HB7/Weinbergtour.

We head up to the village center with its church, monastery and a picturesque general store right next to the Riegerbauer estate.

We continue up the road in the direction of the "Hofberger Buschenschänken".

On the Hoferberg we are now in the middle of the wine-growing area and have a wide view of the countryside.

We reach Siegersdorf, pass the Lang winery and continue uphill at the next junction on the right ("Siegersdorf/Kulm/Stubenberg") along the HB7.

Above Siegersdorf, we turn left at the next crossroads and continue in the direction of "Kulm/Kulmkeltendorf".

We now ride below the Kulm, past the GH Ackerwirt. We enjoy the beautiful views and stay on the HB7.

At the junction with the main road, we leave HB7 and turn left into the village of Puch to reach the starting point. Several establishments invite you to stop for refreshments.

The apple village of Puch is located in Eastern Styria and is easily accessible via the A2 from Vienna (approx. 1.8 hours) and Graz (approx. 45 minutes).

Coming from Vienna: Take the highway exit Hartberg on the A2 coming from Vienna. Follow the B54 / Wechselbundesstraße to Pischelsdorf. Via Reichendorf - Elz to Puch.

From Graz: Take the A2 Südautobahn to Gleisdorf-West, then follow the B54 Wechselbundesstraße for two km to the "Blick zur Riegersburg" parking lot and turn left onto the "Steirische Apfelstraße". Follow the signs for approx. 15 km to Puch bei Weiz.