Museums & historical sites
History, museums and hiking trails
Amazed by timeless greatness
“…How very beautiful a place this is, and how joyful to walk through it”, Brahms wrote to his friend Billroth. Join us on a journey through the rich past of eastern Upper Styria – vivid, impressive and full of stories. Experience historical sites right here with all your senses, like the unique Erzberg, the largest surface mine in Central Europe, also known for the Erzbergrodeo, the innovative “Centre on the Mountain” and the steepest standard-gauge railway in Europe.
The Brahms Museum and the Brahms Trail
Johannes Brahms spent nine months in Mürzzuschlag, an intensive creative period during which he composed his 4th Symphony as well as 30 songs and choral works. The museum is dedicated to this special time in Brahms’ life and invites visitors to enjoy music at the annual Brahms Festival and concerts.
The Brahms Trail starts at the museum. With a sheet of music in hand, visitors follow the red hedgehogs for around 5 kilometres through woods and across meadows. More than 20 wayside posts tell amusing and thought-provoking stories from Brahms’ life – a short walk with a lot of musical history.
- Length: 5 km
- Walking time: approx. 2 hours
Hiking trail alongside the iconic Semmering mountain railway
A bold technical masterpiece, running through breathtaking nature like a beautiful necklace.
To the Southern Railway Museum
The world's first mountain railway climbs 450 metres in altitude - a visionary, pioneering technical achievement in unique harmony with pristine nature.
To the Styrian railway hiking trail
Downhill from Semmering railway station or uphill from Mürzzuschlag railway station, you hike on historical traces through the 19th century.
Peter Rosegger’s birthplace and museum
The writer Peter Rosegger knew the hardships of a mountain farming family from birth. A tailor’s apprentice at first, he later became one of the best-known writers of his time. His keen, relatable observations about social and political topics and genuine love for “his” beloved “mountain homeland” have made him a timeless classic. See what his life was like and visit the museum complex in Krieglach (birthplace, school, farm house and more).
Raising old treasures: other museums in the region
The region’s museums make history tangible and bring it to life.
Kulturquartier Leoben
The Leoben Museum Centre showcases 1.100 years of the city's history, contemporary art and a varied programme for children.
Museumshof Kammern
The Museumhof presents the history of the region, a collection of fossils, agricultural tools and creative special exhibitions.
Winter Sport Museum Mürzzuschlag
Experience the world's largest collection of winter sports equipment, an escape game and an interactive children's programme.
The Styrian Erzberg
Experience the Erzberg in many ways: by Hauly truck, on guided tours in the show mine or at events and live blasting.
Oberkapfenberg castle and museum
Pure excitement: falconry, escape games, medieval festivals and a fun children's exhibition make the castle a place of adventure for everyone.
Mariazell pilgrimage church and treasury
You do not have to be a believer to be enthralled by the spirit and energy in and around the famous Mariazell pilgrimage church and its impressive treasury.
The Styrian Eisenstraße (Iron Road) & its museums
Iron has been mined at the Erzberg for over a thousand years. This has shaped the landscape and the people to this day. The Präbichl mountain pass was already used in the Stone Age, followed by copper mining in the Bronze Age. Buildings, houses and museums along the 100 km long Styrian Eisenstraße reflect the memories of the heyday of the iron industry. To this day, the region lives on the pride and traditions of the miners and vividly depicts its history in numerous museums.
Don't miss anything
All museums in the region at a glance, so you won't miss any cultural highlights.
All museums around Leoben at a glance
All museums between Mariazell, Mürzzuschlag and Bruck at a glance
