The best MTB trails around Sankt Johann in der Haide

My pleasure tour every year, car to service and in the meantime a great MTB tour to the Ringkogel and of course with a stop at the nice landlady. A further ride to the Masenberg is recommended, everything is well signposted. The Glückskapelle and above it the summit cross, a true power spot. There is also a refreshment stop to strengthen you for the return journey. Then there is the possibility to go to Pöllauberg and back to Hartberg via the Pöllauberg cycle path, or with a few more meters of altitude, as shown in my tour profile, by crossing the ridge and along the back of the Ringkogel (east side) back to Hartberg. With a small round trip in the city center, cycling is allowed everywhere!! how nice! There is also wonderful Illy coffee, it was a successful, beautiful day.

The Masenberg at 1,262 m above sea level is the last high spur of the Central Alps towards the east. With its elongated mountain ridge, it separates the Vorau basin to the north and the Lafnitztal to the east.

The food tastes very good and is also well presented. The ambiance is right, the staff are friendly and the waiting times are also acceptable, even when it's a bit busier. Super value for money - keep it up!

The church was built in 1384 in quarry stone masonry and has remained unplastered. Therefore, the scaffolding holes are visible. It is one of the few churches in Styria whose original Gothic condition has been largely preserved. During renovation work in 1958, frescoes dating from around 1530 were uncovered. The frescoes in the chancel depict the Last Judgment. The floor of large stone slabs was laid in 1722. The sacristy was added to the church in 1771. The high altar was designed by the Hartberg sculptor Johann Feiner and the carpenter Georg Maurer in 1647.

The view from the top is really beautiful on a clear day, like we had.

Hartberg is a fine town with just under 6800 inhabitants, known primarily for its historic buildings. The main square is the heart of the city, featuring the town parish church, the town hall, the Marian column, and many other historical buildings, all of which are under monument protection. You can really feel the long history when you walk through it. It's not particularly ugly when the sun's rays shine on the main square and people sit together in the beer gardens of the numerous inns and cafés. You can comfortably enjoy a cool beer or a Styrian cider and gaze at the magnificent buildings. The main square is practically the living room of Hartberg, where people meet and wind down the day. And the square isn't just lively at all times, no! Many events take place there. Whether festivals, markets, or cultural highlights, there's always something going on at Hartberg's main square. This is how tradition stays alive and connects the past with the here and now. Anyone visiting Hartberg should definitely take time to experience the charm and hospitable atmosphere in the middle of the historic ambience. It is a real tip for anyone who wants to feel a bit of Styrian cosiness.

Worth seeing. Worth visiting. Worth hiking. I can't think of much more to say about this beautiful and imposing church here on the mountain. Except perhaps: The incredibly brilliant view.

A very nice zoo