Wiaz`Haus Orthofer

Quadruple room

At Gasthof Orthofer, we place great importance on offering our guests welcoming and relaxing accommodations. Our quadruple room is the ideal choice for families or small groups who value comfort and a natural environment.

The quadruple room accommodates up to four people and is equipped with a comfortable double bed and a practical bunk bed. The clever interior design ensures a homey and functional atmosphere even in a small space.

All furniture is made of high-quality solid wood and, together with the oiled parquet flooring, creates a warm, natural ambiance. The careful selection of materials supports a pleasant indoor climate while exuding a sense of authenticity.

Farm Family Room

Experience the charm of country life in our farm family room, which we have built for you right next to the inn. This lovingly designed tiny house combines coziness, modern comfort, and breathtaking views of the Fischbach Alps – ideal for families looking for a special getaway.
The farm family room offers enough space for up to 4 people and consists of:
A double room connected to a single room (bed size 140x200) by a connecting door – perfect for 2 children.
TVs in every room so everyone can enjoy their favorite programs.
Wi-Fi for a stable internet connection – whether for entertainment, planning trips or sharing your holiday moments.
A highlight: The view
From your room you can enjoy a fantastic view of the Fischbach Alps
The highlight.
Start your day with this unique panorama or end your evening in this picturesque setting – a view that excites and inspires.

Single room - small but nice

Are you taking a trip and traveling alone? Or do you prefer to have your own room on group excursions? Then the single rooms at the Landgasthof Orthofer are just right for you! Small but perfectly formed, with a cozy atmosphere for relaxing, unwinding, and feeling good. The single rooms feature a large bed measuring 140 x 200 centimeters, promising complete comfort – ideal after a long day on the cross-country ski trail or hiking.

They are equipped with satellite TV, a toilet, a shower, a sink, and a hairdryer. Two rooms of this category are available. The Classic Single Room is also located at the Landgasthof Orthofer and is equipped with a double sofa bed, toilet, shower, sink, and hairdryer.

Double room

The country inn has five double rooms, each with a double bed without a footboard for tall guests. The double rooms are equipped with a solid wood bed (200 x 180 cm), a table, two armchairs, a large wardrobe, satellite TV, a toilet, a shower, a sink, and a hairdryer.

Two of the double rooms have a pull-out couch. The Alder and Spruce Rooms offer views of the expansive flower meadow and the adjacent forest. The Alder Room even offers a view of the Fischbach Alps!

Anni-Haus - cozy holiday home with panoramic views

Experience an unforgettable stay and enjoy the freedom and comfort of our "Garden House". The charming holiday apartment is located right next to our guesthouse and offers a wonderful panoramic view of the Fischbach Alps. The house can accommodate up to 6 people – ideal for families or small groups who value a personal atmosphere.
The Anni House offers everything you need for a relaxing holiday:
A double room with a comfortable double bed
Another double room with a practical bunk bed, perfect for children or accompanying adults.
The spacious kitchen-diner invites you to cook, eat and socialize together. It is equipped with everything you need for a comfortable stay.
Bathroom: Modern and well-maintained – for a refreshing start to the day.
Fenced garden: The lovingly designed garden is ideal for families with children. Enjoy relaxing hours in nature without having to forego your privacy.
Carport: A practical carport is available for your vehicle, so you can park comfortably whatever the weather.

rabbits

ponies

goats

cats

Orthofer family

Koglhof Adventure Farm

In Austria's orchard, there are not only culinary delights to enjoy, but also lots of fun for the whole family.
In Koglhof, not far from St. Jakob im Walde, you will find a wonderful adventure park. On the 1,050 m long summer toboggan run, you ride the Twinbob over seven jumps and through eight banked curves. In any case, it's fast-paced, as you can reach speeds of up to 40 km/h.
Motor park for coordination, balance and fitness
The Motoripark, directly next to the toboggan run, is a park for all those people who enjoy exercise. But also for all those who want to check to what extent their freedom of movement is still available. At a safe height, at 13 different stations, you face the challenge – here your coordination, balance and fitness are challenged and trained. In addition, you will find other attractions in the park such as a giant toboggan as a climbing tower, a marble run and a flying fox.
Important information
Opening hours at https://sommerrodelbahn-koglhof.at
no driving in the rain
Member of the Genuss Card Oststeiermark
Summer toboggan run Koglhof GmbH
Weizerstrasse 47, 8191 Birkfeld
M. +43 650 2711365

Ratten Mining Museum

The mining museum in Ratten is only a 15-minute drive from the Gasthof Orthofer.
You will discover the world of mining that once existed in the 1920s on the southeast slope of the Fischbach Alps. The “black gold” played an important role, especially for the two towns of Ratten and St. Kathrein am Hauenstein. It shaped not only the surroundings but also the daily lives of its inhabitants. Lignite was mined until 1960, which was loaded and transported by narrow-gauge railway to Birkfeld and Weiz. Furthermore, the coal was transported via a material cable car to Hönigsberg in the Mürztal.
The lovingly designed museum was integrated into the original tunnel entrance. You have the opportunity to take a close look at original exhibits that were used in mining at that time. You can see: the Polish door frame carpentry, polygon carpentry, ring support, mine locomotive, crew car, hunte, miners' tools, model of the sorting and loading facility, photographs, miners' lamps and explosives.
The museum gives you deep insights into the world of mining – you will learn a lot about the history of the region and the hard work of the miners.
With the Genuss-Card Oststeiermark you can enjoy free entry and the guided tour.
Opening hours and guided tours
May to mid-October, every Wednesday and Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. or outside of opening hours at any time by appointment.
Franz Mögle: Tel. +43 664 273 20 15
Baumgartner Christine +43 676 533 64 34
Ratten Municipal Office +43 3173 2213
address
Ratten Mining Museum
Church Quarter 156c
8673 rats

Herberstein Zoo and Castle

One hour away from the inn is the Herberstein Animal World with its castle and museum. In the animal world you can experience more than 700 animals in (almost) the wild, while in the castle you travel back in time. The museum, in turn, takes you into the world of art. By the way, there are discounts with the GenussCard!
The zoo began in the 17th century. At that time, Johann Maximilian I, Baron of Herberstein, recognized that the steep slopes in the village were not suitable for agriculture. In order to use them anyway, he brought fallow deer from Italy, for whom the steep slopes provided a perfect habitat. In 1888, a piece of forest was added to expand the animal population. They specialized in the settlement of native wild animals.
Until the 1960s, the complex was still a private park. At the end of the 1960s, the enclosures were opened to the public and the animal population was expanded. From then on, in addition to the native wild species, there were animals from Africa, America, Asia and more.
Details about the opening times of the zoo can be found directly on the website at www.tierwelt-herberstein.at
Herberstein Castle – guided tour
Get to know Herberstein Castle on a guided tour! As you visit the rooms, you will discover more than 700 years of history that reveals the castle's origins. The castle was built over a period of 450 years and has been owned by the Herberstein family for 22 generations. The castle was first mentioned in writing in 1217. At that time, the domicile was still called Herwigstein, from which today's Herberstein developed. Opening hours and prices can be found at www.herberstein.at
Exhibitions and Gironcoli Museum
In addition to the zoo and the castle, there are numerous exhibitions, including one in the Gironcoli Museum. Here you can see surreal sculptures by the Austrian painter and sculptor Bruno Gironcoli. Incidentally, a threshing floor on the grounds of the Garden Palace was specially converted for the exhibition.

Pöllauer Tal Nature Park

The Pöllau Valley Nature Park offers many excursion destinations. In the market town of Pöllau near Hartberg, you'll find the quaint Folklore Museum. We particularly recommend the Pöllauberg pilgrimage church, the Ebner pastry shop, and the Pöllau farm shop.

Almenland Nature Park

The Almenland Nature Park is a true natural jewel – it is the largest managed alpine pasture area in Europe.
The focal point of the nature park is definitely the Teichalm with the Teichalmsee – at 1,200 m above sea level, you can explore the small mountain lake not only on foot, but also by pedal boat when the weather is nice. And for all the kids who love action, there are also go-karts available to rent. At the small house by the lake, the Almladen, you will find souvenirs and regional delicacies to take home – from Stollen cheese to meat and sausage to pumpkin seed oil and pasta. Tip: On hot days, we recommend that you take a cooler bag with you so that the delicious delicacies arrive home tasting good.
Right next to the lake you will find the moor nature trail, which we highly recommend. Here you will discover one of the last mountain pine raised bogs to be found in Austria. The circular trail is accessible from April to October and takes you through the moorland for 30 minutes. Also suitable for wheelchairs and strollers.

Steirerkraft Kernothek

Visit the Kernothek in St. Ruprecht an der Raab and get to know Styria's green gold – pumpkin seed oil. But not only the highly sought-after pumpkin seed oil, the Styrian's favorite cooking oil, but over 130 delicacies are processed into delicious foods here.
It is clear that Styria is rich in wonderful delicacies. Think, for example, of the scarlet runner bean, which is deeply rooted in Styrian cuisine. Its taste is often reminiscent of chestnuts - it is used to prepare not only savory but also sweet dishes. But apples and polenta are also part of Styria, just like dirndls and lederhosen.
The five adventure tours
The core becomes “Green Gold”
The bean specialist
Sustainability and biodiversity
Agricultural specialist guidance
Nutrition – brilliantly regional
Thanks to individual visitor questions, no two tours are the same, meaning that participating in a tour never gets boring – even if you take part in the same tour some time later. After the tour, we recommend that you pick up some delicious treats from the unpackaged shop – either for yourself or as a souvenir for your loved ones. And if you have the wonderful Styrian produce at home, there are wonderful dishes to cook at home. Recipes can be found at https://www.steirerkraft.com/de/rezepte/
Estyria Natural Products GmbH
Wollsdorf 75, 8181 St. Ruprecht an der Raab
Phone +43 3178 2525-0

Peter Rosegger - Forest Homeland

Visit Peter Rosegger’s forest home! The Alpl is 25 minutes away from the inn. At Alpl you will find the birthplace of the Austrian writer and the forest school, which was built in 1902. His country house, which he had built according to his own plans, is located in Krieglach and today houses the Rosegger Museum.
Birthplace and Forest School
Peter Rosegger was born on July 31, 1843 in Alpl near Krieglach; he had six younger siblings. He was born in a simple mountain farmhouse – at the Kluppeneggerhof. Over time, the farm became indebted, so the family sold it. On Peter Rosegger's 70th birthday (1913), his friends tried to buy back the farm, but the asking price was too high. In 1927, the state of Styria finally acquired the property. The house and surrounding buildings such as stables and outbuildings had fallen into disrepair at that time, so everything was rebuilt. Stones from the house where he was born were used as material and thanks to Peter Rosegger's sketches, some buildings could be accurately reconstructed. The birthplace is now a small museum that provides insights into peasant life at that time. And it was in this very house that the forest farmer's boy first tried his hand at writing. In total he wrote 43 books.
The Forest School by Peter Rosegger
Peter Rosegger was taught in his childhood by Michael Patterer, who taught him to read and write. To show his gratitude, Peter Rosegger later had the so-called Forest School built. The construction took five months and was financed solely through donations. Shortly afterwards, 23 children were taught by the first forest school master, Leopold Kramer. The forest school was in operation until 1975, after which classes were discontinued. The forest school has been a museum since 1982.
Summer house and death house
Peter Rosegger died on June 26, 1918 at the age of 74. You can visit his grave in the cemetery in Krieglach. His summer house, where he lived with his wife and children, was also the place where he died. That is why it is also known as Rosegger’s death house. After his death, his wife locked both his study and his death room to preserve them for posterity. The house was acquired by the state of Styria in 1943 on the occasion of Peter Rosegger’s 100th birthday. Today the house is a museum, and the two locked rooms have been reopened and are accessible to visitors.

Excursion destinations Mürzzuschlag

If you take a trip to Mürzzuschlag, you should definitely stop by the museums! Particularly well-known are the Southern Railway Museum, the Brahms Museum and the Winter Sports Museum. Particularly impressive and fascinating is the Semmering Railway, which was built by Carl von Ghega as the first standard gauge mountain railway in Europe. The Church of the Redeemer is also worth seeing. We present all the mentioned excursion destinations here!
Southern Railway Museum and Semmering Railway
The Southern Railway Museum has two exhibitions and makes full use of the space available – the exhibitions are located in two historic locomotive halls. On the one hand, there is an exhibition on the Southern Railway from Vienna to Trieste. This is located in the locomotive assembly hall, which was built in 1919. On the other hand, you will find all kinds of vehicles and locomotives in the roundhouse. From railcars to railway and motor carriages to steam and electric locomotives, railway fans will find everything their heart desires. The museum is located in the core zone of the UNESCO World Heritage Semmering Railway.
The Semmering Railway is over 160 years old and 41 kilometers long. It runs through 15 tunnels from Gloggnitz over the Semmering to Mürzzuschlag. From a technical point of view, the construction of the railway line was a magnificent feat – especially considering that at that time no locomotives were built for such routes.
The connection via the Semmering was extremely important – it made it possible to open up the Habsburg monarchy to transport infrastructure. The capital Vienna was connected with the important port city and the important trading center Trieste. In addition, many attractive tourist destinations with villas and luxury hotels were built along the Semmering Railway, where artists such as Johannes Brahms and Gustav Mahler spent their summers.
The high mountain railway was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.
Brahms Museum
Johannes Brahms, a famous German composer, pianist and conductor, lived in Mürzzuschlag for several summers. In total he spent 9 months there. During this time he composed his IV Symphony as well as 30 songs and choral works. The Brahms Museum was built in honor of the artist and his stay in Mürzzuschlag. During the exhibition you will not only learn a lot about his greatest works. His private life is also in the spotlight, so you will meet his close circle of friends during the exhibition. You can even visit Johannes Brahms's original living quarters, so it's definitely worth a visit!
Winter Sports Museum
Anyone interested in the history of skiing and winter sports in Austria should take a detour to the Winter Sports Museum. The Winter Sports Museum was founded in 1947 and includes a collection of objects as well as an archive and a library. The collection consists of hundreds of winter sports objects, from boots and skis to sleds and medals to photos and posters. All objects are unique and tell a story that takes you back 2000 years.
Church of the Redeemer Mürzzuschlag
If you're looking for more after all the museums, we recommend the Church of the Redeemer in Mürzzuschlag. The construction of the church was made possible by a fundraising campaign by the writer Peter Rosegger and began in 1900. In just five months, the brick building was erected on a hill often called the “Mount of Olives.” From there you have a beautiful view of the city and up above you have a great view of the Schneealm.

The Green Lake in Tragöss

The Green Lake in Tragöß is one of the most beautiful natural phenomena in Austria. The lake gets its name from the color of the water. This shines in a beautiful emerald green. The spring water not only provides a crystal-clear view of the lake's bottom, but its color is also seductive and rivals the surrounding forests. The path around the lake attracts not only many walkers. Many hikes are also undertaken from the car park towards the lake and onto the Sonnschien.
Due to heavy rainfall, the water level rises and falls dramatically. In autumn and winter the lake may even disappear almost completely. We therefore recommend visiting in spring and summer. On the walking path around the lake, many benches invite you to rest, enjoy and recharge your batteries. Attention: Bikinis and swimming trunks must unfortunately stay at home, because swimming in the Green Lake is prohibited. There is also a diving ban because the lake would lose its bright color due to the churning of the lake bed.

Riegersburg

The market town of Riegersburg is located in the southeast of Styria. There are several excursion destinations to visit here. From the castle of the same name to the Zotter chocolate factory, Vulcano ham and the Gölles manufactory.
The Riegersburg
Riegersburg Castle is an hour away from the inn. It stands proudly on its rock, which is a popular destination for athletes thanks to the Leopold via ferrata. This castle was already settled over 6,000 years ago and was first mentioned in a document in 1138. At that time it was still called Ruotkerspurch, a name derived from its then owner Rüdiger von Hohenberg. The castle then changed hands several times until it was bought by Prince Johann von Liechtenstein at auction in 1822. Since then, the castle has belonged to the Liechtensteiners, and since 2009 Dr. Prince Emanuel of Liechtenstein and his family look after the impressive building. For more information visit www.dieriegersburg.at
Incidentally, there is a cave in the rock beneath the castle, which workers discovered in 2012. During work on the via ferrata, the entrance to the cave was opened. Among other things, it contained a Gothic column and a tiled stove shard from the 16th century.

Graz sights

Graz is an hour and a half away from Gasthof Orthofer. Nevertheless, this city of art and culture is not to be missed, as it offers some fantastic sights. Be sure to visit the State Armoury with its armory or an exhibition at the Kunsthaus (Museum of Fine Arts). And during a stroll, you can admire the Murinsel (Island) and take a look at the Schloßberg (Schlossberg) and its clock tower.

The State Armoury: The World's Largest Armoury
The State Armoury is the world's largest preserved armory. Around 32,000 objects are listed as historical monuments, which is why they or the rooms are not labeled. However, you can view the armor and weapons with an audio guide or on a guided tour. The Armoury was built in 1642 and served as an arms depot. When the conflicts of that time ended in the 18th century, the armory was declared a historic monument and opened to the public. Plan your visit now!