Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Grossklein
Southern Styria was once a stomping ground of the Celts, and this legacy has gradually
been unearthed by archaeologists. Some of their finds are housed in the four exhibition
rooms of the
Hallstattzeitliches Museum
(Hallstatt Period Museum;
www.archaeo-grossklein.com
; adult/child/
family €4/2/9; 10am-noon & 2-5pm Wed-Sun Apr-Oct; )
in the small town of Grossklein, 26km
southeast of Deutschlandsberg. Most of the exhibits are from the nearby grave mounds
and include coins, pottery and tools, and a copy of a bronze mask dating from 600 BC
(the original is housed in Graz' Schloss Eggenberg. A 9km archaeology trail heading
northwest from town towards Kleinklein takes in approximately 700 Celtic grave
mounds.
Five to 10 buses (€4, 25 minutes) connect Leibnitz and Grossklein from Monday to
Saturday. Weekdays, a train-bus connection (€9.35, 1¼ hours) from Graz via Leibnitz
works well.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Ehrenhausen
03453 / POP 1050
The picturesque town of Ehrenhausen, near the A9 connecting Graz with the Slovenian
border, makes a fine base for exploring the vineyards of southern Styria.
The town is little more than one street of pastel-coloured houses dominated by the
baroque
Pfarrkirche
(Hauptplatz; dawn-dusk)
. Before setting off for the wine country, follow
the path (three minutes' walk) on the right of the Rathaus up to the
mausoleum
( groups
only)
of Ruprecht von Eggenberg (1546-1611), hero of the Battle of Sisak against the
Turks. This attractive white-and-yellow building is guarded by two impressive Roman-
like bruisers.
If travelling the wine roads, consider the newly opened
Wine & Spa Resort Loisium Südsteier-
mark
( 288 00;
www.loisium-suedsteiermark.at
; Am Schlossberg 1a, Ehrenhausen; s €133-143, d €178-198, ste
€228, day spa (nonguests) €35)
, which brings together wine and bodily TLC in a contemporary
hotel and spa facility.
Hourly trains (€10, 45 minutes) run from Graz to Ehrenhausen. The train station is
about four minutes' walk east of Hauptplatz.
