View of the Dachstein | © Steiermark Tourismus | Günther Steininger View of the Dachstein | © Steiermark Tourismus | Günther Steininger
Enns-, Mur- und Mürztal

THE ALPINE NORTH

Plenty of space, nature and strong companies: this is how the alpine north of Steiermark presents itself. The focus is not just on the fantastic range of holiday and leisure activities between the Dachstein and Semming, but also on internationally renowned companies such as Böhler Edelstahl and voestalpine.

The variety of Steiermark becomes clear as soon as you look at the map. While the south of the province is characterised by delicate vineyards and a Mediterranean hilly landscape, the north presents itself with impressive mountains and deep forests. But the north has even more to offer than beautiful landscapes and breathtaking nature.

Around the largest cities in the north of Steiermark (Kapfenberg, Bruck an der Mur and Leoben) you will find the highest density of world market leaders in materials technology in all of Austria. And yet the alpine north proves its strengths in other industrial sectors too. Pengg Kabel GmbH, for example, produces around 600,000 km of fibre optic cables every year (1.5 times the distance between the earth and moon) as well as 150,000 km of copper cables, while Pankl Racing Systems enjoys a worldwide reputation as a supplier for the aviation and automobile industries. And AT&S, which produces around 160 million printed circuit boards for mobile phones every year, is a further example of the outstanding business enterprises at home in the Green Heart of Austria.

But the Enns-, Mur- and Mürztal show their economic power in other areas too. Mayr-Melnhof Holz is considered to be the leading timber-processing company in Central Europe and the Gösser and Murauer breweries are also known far beyond the provincial borders. One of the largest dairies in Austria, the Obersteirische Molkerei which is known for its fine cheese specialties and milk products, is based in Upper Steiermark as well.

The Erzberg, on the other hand, is the largest open-pit mine in Central Europe and the most important ore deposit in the Alps. It is seen as a symbol of industrialisation and is a central part of the Iron Road. Rock has been mined on the Erzberg for more than 1,300 years. Today, a total of around 12 million tonnes of rock is produced annually in the multi-level open-pit mine using the latest technology. The entire annual amount of 3.2 million tonnes of pure iron ore is shipped to voestalpine.

WHAT ELSE THE NORTH IS KNOWN FOR

  • Where would the economy be without qualified workers and specialists? They can choose to gain their degree at the Kapfenberg Campus of the University of Applied Sciences – FH Joanneum with a focus on the areas of environment and mobility, industry 4.0 and industrial mechatronics as well as mobile development and artificial intelligence. In addition, the internationally renowned University of Leoben offers other exciting fields of study along the value chain of raw materials, from processing to the finished product and recycling.
  • Another important milestone is to follow for the economic area in the Alpine north in 2030, for the Mürztal in particular: the Semmering Base Tunnel will connect Steiermark with Lower Austria, significantly shortening the journey to the Austrian capital Vienna to around one hour. A harbringer of this is the completely redesigned Mürzzuschlag railway station as the gateway to the Alpe-Adria region.
  • The Red Bull Ring in Spielberg is known all over the world, attracting hundreds of thousands of Formula 1 fans and motorsport enthusiasts to the Murtal during racing season, making it one of the country's most important tourist magnets.
  • Schladming-Dachstein is one of Austria's top five tourist destinations.
  • The north of Steiermark is known for its spectacular ski areas. The legendary Nightrace takes place here as does the annual FIS World Cup Nordic Combined in Ramsau am Dachstein where you will also find one of the largest cross-country skiing areas in the Alps (further to Bad Mitterndorf in Ausseerland Salzkammergut).
  • Pure nature! The north of Steiermark is shaped by a large number of nature reserves: the Gesäuse National Park, the UNESCO Global Geopark, the UNESCO World Natural heritage Lassing valley and the nature parks Sölktäler, Eisenwurzen, Zirbitzkogel-Grebenzen, Mürzer Oberland and Almenland, the latter of which forms the transition to Eastern Styria, are among the most beautiful places in the Alps.
  • With the basilica of the same name, Mariazell is Austria’s most important place of pilgrimage and thus an important pilgrimage centre in Central Europe.
  • The literature and book collection at Admont Abbey is known as the largest monastery library in the world.
  • The WinterSportMuseum Mürzzuschlag houses the world's largest and most important collection in skiing and winter sports history.
  • The Mur Cycle Path and Enns Cycle Path are considered to be amongst the most popular cycling tours in Austria. The Schladming-Dachstein region with the "Bike Park Planai" and the "Reiteralm Trails" is also one of Austria’s top bike destinations.
  • It is not without reason that the Gesäuse is known as the "University of Mountaineering". The north offers numerous routes, via ferratas and hikes through the mountain world for beginners and experienced mountaineers alike.
Along the Bründl Trail on the Pogusch | © Steiermark Tourismus | Elisabeth Perl
Worlds biggest monastic library | © Stift Admont | Marcel J. Peda
Murradweg | © Steiermark Tourismus | Tom Lamm

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

The voestalpine site at Donawitz gives visitors unique insights into steel production, from the drilling of the blast furnace to the casting of steel into solid blocks and the rolling of the 120 m long rails.

... the Rax and Hochschwab massifs are indispensable for the water supply in Austria?

The Rax and Hochschwab massifs, which are made of limestone, drain underground and cover most of the catchment area of ​​the first and second Vienna Mountain Spring Pipelines which supply the cities of Graz and Vienna with water.

Not just US actor Ashton Kutcher is a big fan of the Grüner See. Every year, thousands of people head to Tragöß to admire the spectacular emerald green water of the lake.

THE APPEAL OF LIFE IN STeiermark

Red Bull Ring

Probably the most beautiful race track in the world: embedded in the mountain of the Murtal, the Red Bull Ring not only offers exciting races, but is also one of Upper Austria’s most popular destinations.

Red Bull Ring

THE ECONOMIC AREA OF KAPFENBERG-BRUCK-LEOBEN

The conurbation of the three cities in the middle of the local mountains impresses with a broad mix of regional and international companies, many of them world market leaders in their field.

More Information (in German only)

WORLD CHAMPION SKIING

The Planai in the middle of the 4-Mountain Ski Area Schladming has twice been the venue for the FIS Alpine Ski World Championships and also fascinates thousands of people year after year with the now legendary Nightrace. New: in addition to the slalom, the FIS racing calendar now also includes a floodlit giant slalom on the Planai.

4-Mountain Ski Area Schladming

Mountain ranges, pastures and historic towns

DISCOVER the ALPINE NORTH of Steiermark

What else does the north of Steiermark stand for and is there to discover in the Enns-, Mur- and Mürztal?
Follow the links for touristic highlights and get to know the alpine northern regions of Steiermark even better.

© dieindustrie.at | Mathias Kniepeiss
BETTER LIFE INDEX: WHY STeiermark IS WORTH LIVING
Living in Austria
Group of successful business people happy in office | ©nd3000 - stock.adobe.com | ANDOR BUJDOSO
© Abenteuer Erzberg | A. Zöbel
European capital of culture 2024
discover now
© ikarus.cc | Tom Lamm
© Sebastian Canaves off the path | Sebastian Canaves off the path
Murradweg | © Steiermark Tourismus | Tom Lamm
At the Breitlahnhütte in the Sölktäler Nature Park | © Schladming-Dachstein | SupersusiCom
Reiteralm Trails | © Schladming-Dachstein | Christoph Oberschneider | © Schladming-Dachstein / Christoph Oberschneider
© TV Hochsteiermark | Stefan Filzmoser
Explore the mountains
Summer Cable Cars

BRINGING EUROPE CLOSER TOGETHER: THE "NEW" SOUTHERN LINE

More Europe, fewer borders: the Southern Line with the Semmering Base Tunnel and Koralm Railway is one of the largest and most spectacular infrastructure projects of the present. 200 km of railway lines are being modernised and 170 newly built. Over 5,000 people are working on the project and a further 15,000 will be employed here in the future.

3.5 million people live in the catchment area of ​​the Southern Line which will provide fast connections between cities such as Vienna, Graz and Klagenfurt – adding great sustainable value for the people and living spaces along the route. But the connections to the Southern Railway are being optimised too, giving the whole of Upper Styria a boost.

Cycling & rail as an ideal combination | © Steiermark Tourismus | Martin Kubanek
Tettermoor in Schladming | © Steiermark Tourismus | Tom Lamm

BENEFITCARD - WORKING IN SCHLADMING-DACHSTEIN

As a sign of appreciation, all employees of Sommercard partner establishments have the opportunity to purchase a BenefitCard. The BenefitCard includes the same all-inclusives and discounts as the Schladming-Dachstein Sommercard.

More information on living in the alpine north

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