A short hike from the Thaler Lake up to the Plabutsch

If you are looking for a nice day trip with a lake tour and an astounding panoramic view, this is for you. The Thaler Lake offers a beautiful nature experience and, at the same time, the possibility to enjoy the day and relax at the restaurant or on the terrace with a view of the lake. For children and also for young-at-heart-adults, pedal boating on the lake is always a highlight. And if you are searching for one of the most beautiful views, you will find it when walking up the Plabutsch to the lookout post "Fürstenstand".

By car, it takes about 16 minutes from Graz to Thal. There is a free parking space behind the restaurant, but it is often very full.

Even though it is a little more complicated, you can also get to Thal by public transport by taking the bus line 40 to Gösting and then the bus line 48 towards Kötschberg.

The short hike begins directly at the parking space behind the Thaler Lake Restaurant. At the edge, you will find a narrow wooden bridge, which you cross and then briefly turn left before taking a sharp right and following the path upwards.

To the right, you can catch a glimpse of the Thaler Lake. You get to a fork in the path, where you keep to the left. The trail continues steeply uphill. Now follow the red-white-red markings and the signs towards Plabutsch.

In March, you can find the first flowers and herbs along the path, such as the common chickweed, a plant often declared a weed. You can easily make ointments, tea and a salad of this wild herb. It is even very healthy because it contains vitamins A and C, magnesium, iron, calcium and other substances such as saponins and mucilage. It is easy to recognise by its small white star-shaped flowers.

Common chickweed (Stellaria media) 

Primrose (Primula vulgaris)

At the forest road, follow the sign pointing towards Mühlberg-Plabutsch-Fürstenstand. At a fork in the road, take the path further up to the left, which bends to the right and continues straight ahead. Follow this path until you reach a narrow asphalt road.

You can also go another way, but we followed the road for a while and later turned off at a small trail into the forest. From there, it is not far to the summit of Plabutsch at 758 metres.

At the summit of the Plabutsch, you will find the Fürstenstand, a historic lookout post that gives the place its name. It was built there in 1830 after a visit by Emperor Franz I and his wife, Karoline.

Unfortunately, the lookout post is currently somewhat dilapidated. Since it was not closed off, we went up anyway because you don't get such a beautiful panoramic view everywhere. You can see the city of Graz and the Schlossberg. When the weather is good, you even can see the volcanic rock on which the Riegersburg stands. You also have a great view of the Schöckl, so it's worth going to the summit. And as a little tip, I've also been here at night in good weather, and the view of the stars and distant lights of the city from up here is breathtaking.

Fürstenstand

When you come down from the lookout post, a stone staircase next to the inn leads to the wildlife fence. There were no animals during our visit, but a wooden bench invites you to rest, with a beautiful view towards the city.

On our way back to the lake, we took a similar trail. We did not take the asphalt path but preferred to stay on forest paths this time.

At the Mühlberg, you rejoin the path you have taken before and follow it further. You can orientate by the signs pointing in the direction of Thaler Lake.

Once you are back, you can make a lake circuit around Thaler Lake and watch the ducks or, if you are lucky, some frogs.

Many things got renovated around the lake, including the boat in which Arnold Schwarzenegger once married. The pedal boats are new, so you can now find pedal boat swans and one flamingo floating on the lake.

The newly built restaurant is now open, so you can have a leisurely coffee at the end of the hike, although you should bring a little patience with you, as the service here was a little slow. If the weather is good, you can sit outside under sun umbrellas and enjoy the view of the lake with a coffee or a piece of cake.

But if it starts to rain, as it did on our trip, you can also find a cosy spot inside.

I always enjoy visiting the Thaler Lake because the surroundings are beautiful, it's not too far from Graz, and you can enjoy nature even if you don't have too much time available. It's also a wonderful place to photograph different animals if you have the patience to do so.

A lake that is noisy cannot reflect anything. ~ Robert Adams

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