Stage 26 From Glacier to Wine North Route Anger - Pöllau

From the center of the market town of Anger, we first hike eastward past the open-air swimming pool to the tracks of the Feistritztalbahn, which we cross. The Feistritztalbahn, which runs from Weiz via Anger to Birkfeld, is one of those few historic railroad lines that immediately transports us back to an earlier era, when life was more leisurely and peaceful. Without haste or hurry, this narrow-gauge railroad crosses the scenic Feistritz Valley and is one of the tourist highlights of Eastern Styria. Due to the bold construction with its numerous bridges, viaducts and tunnels, there are also numerous worthwhile motifs for every amateur photographer on the journey. A special feature is also the first narrow-gauge wagon hotel in Europe in Anger. A 124-year-old service car of the Feistritztalbahn was converted here and now serves - located directly at the Hotel Angerer Hog - as an unusual apartment.

Now leaving the settlement area of Anger, the further route leads ever so slightly uphill through the so-called fairy tale forest with its romantic mill popular with families to the trout inn Holzerbauer (Tel. +43 3177 2293), which in addition to its - nomen est omen - fish specialties is also known for its other specialty days. A few meters after the Forellgasthof we again reach a short stretch of forest, where the path first turns right. After leaving this forest we reach a crossroads at a small municipal road, where we keep to the left and now follow the rarely used road for a little more than 2 km. Between two farms we turn left to reach the highest point of the stage at 929 m above sea level via a pleasant dirt road.

Alternating between idyllic houses and farms and fields, through shady forests and across meadows, we now hike downhill towards Pöllau, the center of the Pöllauer Tal Nature Park. On the opposite side of the valley, we are greeted and accompanied by the pilgrimage church of Pöllauberg, which is on the program for the next stage of the hiking route "From Glacier to Wine". On this section of the stage we also encounter the signposting of the Hirschbirnweg, a beautifully laid out hiking trail dedicated entirely to the culinary flagship product of the Pöllauer Tal Nature Park, the stag pear. On the last few meters to the beautiful market square with the impressive Pöllau Castle, which is also called the "Styrian St. Peter's Cathedral" due to its shape, we still come to the castle park, which used to be the recreation area of the Augustinian canons and today is open to all and not only invites you to linger, but is also home to an "open-air classroom". Located in the western, slightly elevated part of the park, it offers a magnificent view of Pöllau Castle with the Pöllau Parish Church and the Pöllauberg Pilgrimage Church. A root show garden right next to it offers a deep insight into root system and soil life. At the Hirschbirn hirsch'n information station we learn more about the Pöllauer Hirschbirne and the nature park - the other Hirschbirn hirsch'n stations at businesses in the region are also worth a visit.

But now it's time to get to know the culinary delights - available in the numerous restaurants, Buschenschänken and cafés. For example, let's enjoy tempting pastries and cakes as well as genuine Pöllau gingerbread in the sweet corner, in the stylish courtyard of the Ebner confectionery. The master butcher Buchberger and the butcher Ritter provide with their delicious meat and sausage specialties for real treats. In the farm store you can taste the culinary diversity of the region and take it home with you. With the Genuss-Land map of the GenussRegion Pöllauer Hirschbirne we can find many more shopping tips. With all these delicacies we can strengthen ourselves perfectly for the next stage to Hartberg.