Friesach – Ferstlhöhe – Gratkorn

Friesach: bus stop at Weingrill inn

The starting point is the bus stop at the Weingrill inn in Friesach (line 140: Semriach–Friesach–Gratkorn–Graz). From here, take the Petschenweg path (no. 6; Jasen–Höchwirt inn–Scherwirt inn) in a south-easterly direction. After passing a number of houses keep right, and after an extended stretch of woodland and meadows you’ll reach a forest road. Keep to it going left towards the Ferstlhöhe hill and march eastwards on trail no. 6/8. Wander through the town of Jasen to the Höchwirt inn. You can detour for a quarter of an hour via trail no. 7 to the Tropical Exhibition before going back to Gratkorn. Trail no. 8a leads from the Höchwirt inn (Weissegg–St Stefan/Gratkorn) to the road sign for Gratkorn. From here, follow Raiffeisenweg towards the south. Turn right and westwards at the St Stefan fire station to reach Kirchplatz square. From here you can take a taxi or public means of transport back to Friesach.

If you wish to venture the way back to Friesach on foot, walk along the main street of Gratkorn past the culture centre and the nature-protected Zigeunerloch cave. This is the habitat of the rare rock dove. Because of prehistoric finds the cave is closed to the public. Walk directly to Friesach along the Mur river or on the foot and cycle path along the federal road.