From the "Villa Rustica" to the Hausberg sunny side
This tour is a round trip in the middle of Eastern Styria, the so-called "Garden of Austria".
The sunny side of Löffelbach rising fields, are located on the "local mountain".
The fields rising from Löffelbach on the sunny side are located on the "Hausberg", as the graceful terrain is called. The well-preserved foundation walls of the "Villa Rustica" excavated on the outskirts of Löffelbach are of great interest. The excavations are an archaeological peculiarity and count among the historically most important cultural assets in Styria. The foundations date back to a Roman country residence in the style of a palatial peristyle villa with porticoes from the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD.
Neuberg Castle is one of the most important preserved fortified buildings in Styria. It is located at the foot of the Ringkogel . This medieval high castle was built in the 12th century as a border fortress or "battle castle" against the feared Hungarian hosts and against all kinds of "heathen vermin" from the East. A square keep about 36 meters high with the palace is the oldest part of the complex. The castle is privately owned and not open to the public.
Author’s recommendation
The excavation area at Villa Rustica is freely accessible throughout the year.At Neuberg Castle, groups can visit the chapel; visits are possible by appointment.

Track types
Rest stops
Buschenschank Retter-KneisslSafety information
Sturdy shoes are recommended for this hike.
In case of emergency please dial:
- Emergency call fire department: 122
- Emergency call police: 133
- Emergency call rescue: 144
- Euro-emergency call: 112
- ARBÖ breakdown emergency call: 123
Emergency reporting tips - provide answers to the six W questions:
- What happened?
- How many injured?
- Where did the accident happen (possibly GPS coordinates)?
- Who is reporting (callback number)?
- When did the accident happen?
- Weather at the accident site?
Tips and hints
Mehr Informationen:
Tourismusverband Oststeiermark
Geschäftsstelle Hartberg
Alleegasse 6
8230 Hartberg
+43 3332 603300
Die Steiermark Touren App, die gratis auf Google Play und im App Store zur Verfügung steht (Android, iOS), bietet detaillierte Informationen aus erster Hand: Shortfacts (Länge, Dauer, Schwierigkeit, Aufstieg und Abstieg in Höhenmetern, Bewertungen), Karte, Wegbeschreibungen, Höhenmesser, Kompass, Gipfelfinder, Navigation entlang der Tour. Zudem kann man seine persönliche Favoritenliste von Lieblingstouren und –punkten erstellen, Touren und Ausflugsziele offline speichern, social media - Kanäle bespielen und mehr.
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
- From the main square along Preßlgasse to the intersection (parking deck / Brühlgasse), left along the castle wall up Brühlgasse to the intersection. Turn straight ahead into Dr. Friedrich-Niederl-Straße until you reach Löffelbach Ortsmitte,
- from here follow the signs to the Roman estate. Paths lead uphill on the sunny side to the road that leads to Neuberg Castle,
- from the castle along the road uphill and past a quenching pond to the first fork; here turn left downhill to the second fork in front of house no. 224. Now either continue on asphalt downhill (but with an informative view of Neuberg Castle) or keep to the right, on a corridor path, around a small rise and a little shortcut downhill to the next one,
- i.e. from the castle so far third fork. Here keep to the right. Follow the level high road (old blue color markers are visible), reach first a high seat at the edge of the forest and then soon the fourth fork; at it a sign points in the direction of Löffelberg. However, turn left and follow the descending farm road to its end at house no. 95. From here, descend on a field path, immediately keeping left again,
- on a forest road (sign: "Privatweg - Einfahrt verboten") downhill and after a few hairpin bends to a road; finally over a bridge to the asphalt road. Follow this road for a few minutes inland to the information board in Löffelbach and back to Hartberg.
Note
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
- Collective cab "SAM" - Mobility in Eastern Styria: SAM closes the gaps in the public transport network and offers affordable mobility for ALL (bicycle transport partly possible)
- ÖBB - Austrian Federal Railways (bicycle transport possible)
- BusBahnBim - timetable information of bus, train and Bim in Styria (and all over Austria)
- MOBILZENTRAL - Central information point for all questions regarding public transport.
With the BusBahnBim app of Verbundlinie, timetable information has never been easier: all connections by bus, train and streetcar 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.
Getting there
Accessible via the A2 Südautobahn, Hartberg exit. In Hartberg follow the signs to the city center.
Detailed information on how to get here can be found here .
Parking
Coordinates
Book recommendation by the author
The Rother hiking guide "From glacier to wine" - long-distance hiking in Styria can be purchased at the tourist office, 8230 Alleegasse 6, or ordered conveniently online at ROTHER WANDERFÜHRER here
Author’s map recommendations
Hiking & leisure map for the Hartberg region available at the Hartberg Tourist Office , Alleegasse 6 or order conveniently from home. Order brochures here
Book recommendations for this region:
Equipment
Sturdy shoes are recommended and proper backpacking makes many things easier: pack heavy things first. The water bottle should always be within easy reach in a side pocket. All things that are often needed, such as sunglasses, camera or hiking map, belong on top. An emergency kit including blister plaster belongs in every backpack and a clothing according to the "onion system" is always recommended! Sturdy shoes( Stop on the way not possible. )
Statistics
- 3 Waypoints
- 3 Waypoints
Questions and answers
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