The short tour leads through long forest to the Rittschein (long variant also leads to the Feistritz).
The sparse mixed forest with partly steep slopes allows "deep" views. The plant diversity is impressive and what you may not see of the wildlife, you at least hear. At the end there are many beautiful viewpoints, including the VINO.TAKE Kowald with an awesome view.
FROM VIENNA & LOWER AUSTRIA: By car: Süd-Autobahn (A2) to exit Ilz/Fürstenfeld. From here via Fürstenfeld bypass to Bad Loipersdorf.
FROM THE DIRECTION OF GRAZ: By car: on the A2 motorway in the direction of Vienna as far as the Ilz/Fürstenfeld exit. From here via Fürstenfeld bypass to Bad Loipersdorf.
FROM WEST AUSTRIA AND BAVARIA: By car: via Salzburg on the Phyrn freeway (A9) and the Süd freeway (A2) or via Carinthia on the Süd freeway (A2) to the Ilz/Fürstenfeld exit. From here via Fürstenfeld bypass to Bad Loipersdorf.
FROM ITALY OR SLOVENIA: By car: via Villach on the southern freeway (A2) to the Ilz - Fürstenfeld - Bad Loipersdorf exit or via Maribor on the Phyrn freeway (A9) and the southern freeway (A2) in the direction of Vienna to the Ilz/Fürstenfeld exit. From here via Fürstenfeld bypass to Bad Loipersdorf. Detailed information on how to get there can be found here.
From the exit of the spa, turn right and walk up the "Krafthügel" (power hill) - once you reach the top, keep right again. Passing a small vineyard and a piece of forest, you come to Schaffelbadstraße. Follow this road for 50 m and turn left towards Henndorf. After 50 m turn left from the road into the Hofwald. Here you follow the signposted forest road downhill for the longest time. After almost 3 km you reach the connecting road Gillersdorf/Therme. Here you turn left along the road to the Rittschein bridge. Here you could decide to hike the long version (straight ahead over the bridge). For the short version, continue to the left of the road before the bridge. After about 500 m, turn left onto the gravel road and follow it for about 700 m before turning right uphill again, first slightly and then more steeply. Passing some houses you will be rewarded with a beautiful view into the Feistritz and Lafnitz valleys. Passing the Hartbergschlössel (private), you turn - before you get to the main road - behind the Karnerhof onto a footpath. This path always leads away from the road back to the spa. Before you get back, you should enjoy the beautiful view - especially from the lookout tower.
With the BusBahnBim app from Verbundlinie, timetable information has never been easier: all bus, train and streetcar connections in Austria can be queried by entering locations and/or addresses, stops or important points. The app is available as a free app for smartphones (Android, iOS) - on Google Play and in the App Store.
The Thermenlandbus also takes you directly on the fastest way to the spa resort Loipersdorf, where you can start your tour comfortably!