Lovely picnic on a volcano with an idyllic view of the Kapfenstein Castle

The beautiful Kapfensteiner Kogel in Austria is a lovely destination for families, couples and hikers. In addition to breathtaking landscapes, vineyards and hiking trails, the highlight of the excursion is likely to be a picnic in the beautiful Styrian volcano land.

If you would like to hike a little on the Kapfensteiner Kogel, I can recommend the Geo-Trail. It leads through the extraordinary landscape in the heart of the southeast Styrian volcano land. It offers many exciting things, including viewing platforms, eleven different stations, and a lot of information about the volcano landscape. With about one hour of walking, it is a relatively short and leisurely circular walk that is also very suitable for children.

Parking is available free of charge at the hotel. 

Starting point: Kapfenstein Castle

Endpoint: Kapfenstein Castle

Length: approx. 2.4 kilometres

Duration: approx. 1 hour

Level of difficulty: easy

Kapfenstein Castle

The hike's starting point is the historic Kapfenstein Castle in south-eastern Styria, dating back to the 11th century. From the castle, you set off in the direction of the church.

Kapfenstein parish church

First, you come to station 1, called "A volcano is formed", where you can see the past of the volcano land, which was shaped by more than 40 erupting volcanoes 2 million years ago.

Then, behind the church, you continue into the forest, always along the path. At the second station, you can find out about the volcano of Hochstraden. About 2 million years ago, hot molten rock paved its way from the earth's interior to the earth's surface. A volcano erupted on the Stradner Kogel, and massive, glowing lava flows poured into the vast southeast Styrian plain. Everything about the volcano is well explained with graphics.

The third station is about the vent of the old volcano, which you can visit.

It is simple to stay on the right path because of the good signposting.

View of Bad Gleichenberg

At station 5, "At the edge of the new crater", you can look at the 2-million-year-old deposits, which I think look incredibly impressive. These are individual layers of ash that have built up on top of each other. When the volcano came to rest after a long time, the whole thing sealed itself with rock. What you see today comes from that the volcano erupted once again. The explosion created a crater, at the edge of which you stand here. Parts of the old volcano cone blew away, which is why you can see the layers of the older volcano. I find that really fascinating.

Volcanic deposits

If you keep walking, you come to the 6th station, "The volcano as a builder" - about how a volcano can change the landscape - that is on a wooden platform. After that, the path becomes narrower, and it goes down quite steeply on the side.

The 7th station, "The volcano through the microscope", is about the tuff layers of the Kapfenstein volcano, which are examined more closely here. Components such as the minerals that make up the rock become visible. On the information sign, there are enlargements shown, which you can use to take a closer look at the layers of the volcano.

If you continue, the wooden railing ends.

Remember to enjoy the beautiful view along the way.

To get to the 8th station, you have to go through a wooden door at the end of the path. Then you reach the Herz Jesu Chapel, behind which the information board about Riegersburg - which withstood the attempts to destroy it, because it was built on a large rock, the chimney filling of the original volcanic cone - is hidden. There also is a telescope, where you can look at the Riegersburg.

Herz Jesu Chapel

By the way, the Herz Jesu Chapel is a highlight. Roses bloom around the chapel and countless butterflies flutter around.

You also come to the grapevines here.

After that, you walk along the meadow. Only the stations "Noble Stone from Great Depth" and "The Eruption" are left before you return to the castle and pick up your picnic basket.

Who could say "no" to a delicious picnic with a view of the stunning Styrian volcano landscape? Picnic baskets are available at the Kapfenstein Castle every Friday, Saturday and Sunday and on public holidays. However, to enjoy a picnic at Kapfensteiner Kogel, you have to book it in advance, although one day in advance is sufficient. That is easily done via the picnic card on the website. You can choose between 3 different picnic baskets, the so-called "Kapfenstein Castle", "Backed Chicken Picnic" and "Vegetarian Picnic". A picnic basket is enough for two people and costs about €52.00. As a vegetarian, I tried out the vegetarian picnic basket.

Picnic basket and idyllic view of the Kapfenstein Castle

Once you have ordered the picnic, you only have to come to the castle restaurant on the chosen day and pick up your picnic basket there.

Then look for a cosy spot in the surrounding area. It is not necessary to bring a picnic blanket, as there are wooden tables and benches everywhere. But if you want to have the real picnic feeling, you are, of course, welcome to bring your blanket and set it up in a lovely spot.

View of the Kapfenstein Castle

Together with a bottle of wine from Winkler-Hermaden's wine cellar, you can now enjoy the more than delicious food. Each picnic basket contains a tablecloth, napkins, plates, cutlery, wine and water glasses, salt and pepper shakers, a bottle opener and a small bottle of wine. In the vegetarian picnic, you will find baked sticks, rolls and various spreads, vegetables such as cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes, salad, pickles, different types of cheese, fruit such as apples and a sweet dessert to finish.

Rosé wine Winkler-Hermaden

There is something for everyone, and I can only say that the picnic tasted super delicious. The wine also comes from the Winkler-Hermaden family's 37-hectare vineyards. What I find remarkable is that the family that runs the vineyards is very concerned with sustainability and therefore runs biological-organic cultivations. They attach great importance to healthy soil and are always looking for new ways to give microorganisms, insects and plants the space they need to live. And good soil ultimately also influences the wine. By the way, the grapes are still carefully harvested by hand!

The fact that biodiversity is returning here can be seen on-site in the countless butterflies, buzzing and humming bumblebees, bees and other insects. The Winkler-Hermaden family has created a little paradise here.

Red Admiral Butterfly (Vanessa Atalanta)

If you want to enjoy your time in the Volcano Land a little longer, you can stay at the family-run Hotel Kapfenstein Castle. All rooms offer a view of the surrounding vineyards.

You can rent a bike and visit the mountains, or relax in the thermal baths in Bad Gleichenberg, only 7 kilometres away. There are more than enough opportunities for hiking at the Kapfensteiner Kogel, and you can also visit the castle.

The castle kitchen offers regional delicacies from Friday to Saturday between 12:00 am and 8:30 pm and on Sundays and public holidays between 12:00 am and 4:00 pm. Rest days are currently from Monday to Thursday.

Restaurant Kapfenstein Castle

The trip to Kapfenstein Castle was so worth it. Delicious food in the midst of nature is soothing for the body and soul. And even if the chosen hiking trail was a little short, I still found myself in calming nature, and that was quite good.

Food for the body is not enough. There must be food for the soul. - Dorothy Day

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