From Knittelfeld centre, continue again on the 02 into the “Hautzenbichl” suburb, there crossing the Murtalschnellstraße road. Walk now on a slightly uphill forest road to the Gehöft Böcksteiner farmstead. (It is possible to make a detour here to the woodland theme trail.) Keep walking along the same road until reaching the 1,194m high Tremmelberg with its wooden double-towered observation post. The two towers are modelled on the towers of the Benedictine Abbey of Seckau (tower in the mountains). It takes approx. 2h to reach the Tremmelberg. From the Tremmelberg, there is a gentle descent to the Kalvarienkirche church. The 02 trail leads along the pilgrim’s way (way of salvation, numerous wayside shrines) to Seckau. At the point where the trail comes out onto the Marktgasse (doctor, police office, pastry shop, etc.), the actual trail turns to the left. First, however, you should by all means make a detour into the centre of Seckau with its famous Benedictine quarter (approx. 1h from the Tremmelberg to Seckau). Leave Seckau after the short walk back through the Marktgasse street and turn to the right. The road now leads downhill through a small wood into the Gradenbachtal valley, where you must cross the road to the stone mill at the "Moar" farmstead (810m). Westwards, follow the slightly climbing municipal road until reaching a little chapel at the "Weigand" farmstead. Here, turn to the left onto a forest path which must be followed until just before the "Kielbrein" farmstead. From here, there is a glorious view over the towns of Bischoffeld and Ingering II with the Schloss Wasserberg castle. Branching off again to the left, walk along a cool woodland path down to the former Gasthof "Braunwirt" inn (785m). Here, cross the L515 state road and walk along the municipal road in the direction of Schattenberg, following it until the small town of Ingering II.
(Franz Genger, Rudi Felber, OeAV-Sekt. Knittelfeld, Christina Schwann, OeAV)

 

The Benedictine abbey of Seckau with its cathedral is one of the symbols of Styria. The monastery was established as an Augustinian canonical church and was the seat of the bishop and of the diocese. After the closure of the monastery by Josef II, it was repopulated again in 1883 by Benedictine monks from Beuron. Since then, the monastery goes by the motto "Ora et labora – Pray and work". 19 Fathers and Brothers live here and celebrate the Conventual Mass and the canonical prayers on a daily basis. But the monks are nevertheless no strangers to the world, as their love of their fellow men also leads them to engage in pastoral activities, such as spiritual exercises, days of reflection and the care of young people at the abbey grammar school. The abbey has in the meantime become an important source of employment in the region. Small businessses today provide an extra means of support for the monastery. Furthermore, the management of the abbey grammar school, the monastery administration, the work in the daily catering service and the necessary maintenance also require a great number of additional workers. The Schattenbergweg trail leads past a large manor. In 1859, Johann Alois Zeilinger, scion of a family known in the Styrian iron industry, had a new scythe hammer built in Schattenberg. The location was a favourable one due to the abundant forest and the water power and offered up to 50 people work and income. As early as 1904, a telephone line was laid from here to Knittelfeld and later also one to the Zeilinger hunting lodge in Roßbach. Zeilinger’s descendents (son Franz, grandson Otto) also ran a large farm, a dairy and a sawmill alongside the hammer works. Business started to dwindle after World War I and the scythe hammer was closed in 1929. In 1953, Viennese industrialist Otto Arnold purchased the remaining property in Schattenberg. Wasserberg Castle sits up on a hill in Ingering II. It was mentioned in a document as early as 1174, and a defence structure overlooked the numerous mule tracks between the Aichfeld and the Paltental and Liesingtal and Pölstal valleys. The old fortress was extended between 1482 and 1512 into a mighty castle complex. From 1260 to 1844, Wasserberg was owned by the Bishopric of Graz-Seckau, and afterwards it changed hands several times. Between 1897 and 1907, it was owned by Prince Arnulf of Bavaria, who ran a hotel with a health centre including a spa doctor in the castle. Count von Montjoye la Roche sold it in 1913 to the Heiligenkreuz monastery. During World War II, it came under the authority of the imperial forest administration and then went to the trust management of the province of Styria. Following recovery proceedings, Wasserberg Castle has been in the hands of the Heiligenkreuz monastery again since 1950.
(Christina Schwann, OeAV, Franz Genger, Arnorld Kreditsch, OeAV-Sekt. Knittelfeld)