Hartberg
Hartberg-Fürstenfeld District of Styria is centered in Hartberg. Hartberg’s land area is 21.58 km2 and its population as of January 1, 2023 is 6,764.
This city boasts a long and illustrious past. Here, during the Neolithic, a settlement grew flourishing. In the third century BC, “Ringkogel” housed one of the most well-known prehistoric towns in Styria. Its surrounds were a large defensive wall. Just two towers—Schölbinger Tower and Reck Tower—of the 7-8 metre high and 1500 metre long wall remain. Hartberg first came into reference in a text dated 1286. King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary seized it in the fifteenth century. The village was reduced to a few homes by a big fire, but since then the population has gradually grown.
Hartberg lies in the eastern section of Styria, Austria, within the Hartberg-Fürstenfeld region.Rising 359 m above sea level, it occupies a territory of 21.53 km2. East Styrian hill area, marked by rolling hills, forests, vineyards, orchards, and farms, envelop Hartberg. Rising to 789 m, the Ringkogel hill dominates the scene and provides a broad perspective of the city and the surroundings. A tributary of the Feistritz river, the Hartberger Safen river runs across the city creating a valley. Hartberg falls inside the Styrian thermal area, well-known for its mild temperature and lots of spas.
Hartberg boasts a continental temperature range with four separate seasons and modest fluctuations. The mean annual temperature is 9.6 °C; the mean annual precipitation is 847 mm. With an average temperature of 19.4 °C, July is the warmest month; January comes in at -0.7 °C. With an average precipitation of 107 mm, June is the wettest month; February comes in driest with an average precipitation of 46 mm. Hartberg has beautiful and bright spring and summer weather and enjoys roughly 1,800 hours of sunlight annually. Particularly on the higher altitudes, the fall is warm and colorful; the winter is chilly and snowy.
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Geography Of Hartberg
Rich in Neolithic history, Hartberg is the capital of the Hartberg-Fürstenfeld District in Styria, Austria. Having a population of 6,449, it is in eastern Styria close to the Burgenland boundary. Rising in the valley of the Safenbach, a tributary of the Feistritz, the city is encircled by Eastern Alpine mountains including the Joglland, the Bucklige Welt, and the Wechsel.
Hartberg is conveniently reachable by train and road; its railway station connects Vienna and Graz. The Masenberg provides a panoramic view of the city and the Safenbach valley; the Hochwechsel provides a panoramic view of the Eastern Alps and the Styrian basin; and the Ringkogel is the location of a prehistoric community.
With the highest point in the region at 1,743 m, the terrain and topography of the city span low and rich plains to hilly and wooded parts. Near Hartberg, important mountain summits are Masenberg, Hutwisch, and Hochwechsel. Notable summits close to Hartberg are the Ringkogel, Geierkogel, and Schöckl, all of which provide panoramic views of the Eastern Alps and the Styrian basin.
Weather & Climate In Hartberg
Hartberg boasts a moderate continental temperature with four separate seasons and rather small fluctuations in rainfall and temperature. With an average temperature of 10°C and an average monthly precipitation of 50mm, spring is a nice season with mild temperatures and moderate rain. April is the wettest month; May comes in second most humid month. March has the highest average wind speed—3 m/s—of any month. There are almost five hours of typical sunshine each day.
With an average temperature of 19°C and an average precipitation of 40mm per month, summer is a pleasant and sunny season with low rainfall. October is the driest month; August comes in second least humid month. About 2 m/s is the average wind speed; June is the calmest month. Though July is the suniest month, the average daily sunshine hours are roughly eight.
With an average temperature of 9°C and an average precipitation of 60mm monthly, autumn is a chilly and wet season with low temperatures and high precipitation. The humidity is rather 75%; December is the most humid month. About 2.5 m/s is the wind speed; March is the windiest month and June the calmest.
Demographics Of Hartberg
The 2018 census counted Hartberg, an Austrian town, at 6,650 people. At a population density of 309.1 individuals per square kilometer, the population comprised 46.9% men and 53.1% women. The population had a median age of 43.7 years; men had a median age of 41.4 years and women had a median age of 45.8 years. While 6.1% were foreign nationals, most people—93.9% were Austrian citizens. German, Croatian, Hungarian, and Romanian foreign nationals were the most often occurring ones.
Hartberg’s population has been gradually falling since the 1970s mostly in response to age, low birth rate, and negative migration balance. The population naturally grew -0.2% in 2018; net migration rate was -0.4%. At birth, men had an average life expectancy of 80.8 years and women of 84.7 years.
Religiously, Hartberg’s population is mostly Roman Catholic; 76.6% of them subscribe to this faith. Comprising 5.4% of the population, the Protestant Church is the second most often occurring religious group. Of the population, other religions accounted for 1.4%; 16.6% had no religious connection or stated no religion at all.
Economy Of Hartberg
Rising in Styria, Austria, Hartberg is a medieval town with a varied past spanning more than 2000 years. The Celts arrived in the town first in the third century BC and established a fortified hilltop community on the Ringkogel mountain. Later in the first century AD, the Romans invaded the territory and built a civilian village and military camp. Roman influence brought to the area infrastructure development and wine growing.
Nowadays, tourism is a major business in Hartberg drawing guests both nearby and far away. The town presents a variety of natural, cultural, and historical sites including the Ringkogel observation tower with its panoramic view, the ecopark with its environmental businesses and educational facilities, the historical center with its baroque parish church and town hall, and the adjacent thermal spas in Bad Waltersdorf and Bad Blumau. Apart from boosting the local economy, tourism supports the preservation and enhancement of Hartberg’s natural and cultural legacy.
Emphasizing small and medium-sized businesses, industry is another significant sector in Hartberg. The town is well-known for its food and drink businesses as well as metalworking and woodworking. Leading firms in these disciplines include Hartl Metall, Pichler Werkzeugmaschinen, Weitzer Parkett, Scheucher Holzindustrie, Zotter Schokoladen Manufaktur, and Vulcano Schinkenmanufaktur. Jobs are generated by the industrial sector; it also stimulates creativity and helps other sectors to grow.
History Of Hartberg
Rising in Styria, Austria, Hartberg is a medieval town with a rich and varied past spanning more than 2000 years. The Celts arrived in the town first in the third century BC and established a fortified hilltop community atop the Ringkogel mountain. Later in the first century AD, the Romans invaded the territory and built a military camp and civilian community. Roman influence brought to the area infrastructure development and wine farming.
Nowadays, tourism is a major business in Hartberg drawing guests from both close by and far. The town presents a variety of natural, historical, and cultural attractions including the Ringkogel observation tower with its panoramic view, the ecopark with its environmental businesses and educational facilities, the historical center with its baroque parish church and town hall, and the adjacent thermal spas in Bad Waltersdorf and Bad Blumau. Apart from boosting the local economy, tourism supports the preservation and enhancement of Hartberg’s cultural and ecological legacy.
With an eye toward small and medium-sized businesses, industry is another vital sector in Hartberg. The town is well-known for its food and drink businesses as well as its metalworking and woodworking. Leading firms in these disciplines are Hartl Metall, Pichler Werkzeugmaschinen, Weitzer Parkett, Scheucher Holzindustrie, Zotter Schokoladen Manufaktur, and Vulcano Schinkenmanufaktur. Jobs are created by the industrial sector; it also stimulates innovation and helps other sectors to grow.
Best Time To Visit Hartberg
With moderate temperature around 14°C, gentle and pleasant weather, and flowering nature, spring in Hartberg is a great visit period. Popular outdoor pursuits in this season are golfing, riding, and hiking. Celebrated with music, dance, cuisine, and fun, cultural events and celebrations include the Hartberger Frühlingsfest (Hartberg Spring Festival) honor the entrance of spring.
With an average temperature of 22°C, summer is the suniest and mildest season Hartberg experiences. Offering chances for outdoor pursuits including swimming, kayaking, and fishing in the Hartberger Gmoos wetland area, it is the busiest visitor season. Events and celebrations include the Hartberger Sommerkino (Hartberg Summer Cinema) and the Hartberger Land Radmarathon (Hartberg Cycling Marathon) draw guests from all around.
Hartberg’s autumn is marked by average temperatures about 12°C, cool, crisp weather, and vivid landscape. Popular activities during this season are sightseeing and leisure; historical and cultural sites like the Schloss Klaffenau and the Museum Hartberg are staging events and displays. Local vegetables and goods are highlighted in culinary pleasures and celebrations such the Hartberger Kürbisfest (Hartberg Pumpkin Festival) and the Hartberger Bauernmarkt (Hartberg Farmers’ Market).
Having an average temperature of 1°C, winter in Hartberg is the coldest and snowiest season. Off-season, it offers less crowds and reduced costs. Nearby ski resorts as well as the Eislaufplatz Hartberg ice rink let one enjoy winter sports and activities including skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating. The winter season gains a magical touch from joyful and romantic activities including the Hartberger Adventmarkt (Hartberg Advent Market) and the Hartberger Ballnacht (Hartberg Ball Night).
How To Get In Hartberg
Hartberg is easily reachable by vehicle from Vienna to Graz via the A2 Autobahn. Drivers headed toward the city center follow exit 115 (Hartberg). The drive from Graz is around 45 minutes; the trip from Vienna takes about 1.5 hours. There is enough parking—including free spaces—within and around the city.
Additionally serving the town is a railway station run by regional trains from Vienna and Graz. While from Vienna it takes roughly three hours, from Graz the rail travel takes about two hours; depending on the departure station and schedule, at least one train change is involved. Accessible by foot, cab, or bus, the railway station is around 1.5km from the city centre.
Bus companies link Hartberg with Vienna and Graz. While from Vienna it takes roughly two hours and thirty minutes, the bus trip from Graz lasts roughly one hour and fifteen minutes. Buses stop at the main bus station, near the train station and the city centre. Online access to schedules and tickets comes via MVG Mürztaler Verkehr or ÖBB-Postbus.
About 50km away, Graz Airport is the closest airport to Hartberg for people flying. The airport connects several European locations by means of both domestic and international aircraft. From the airport, visitors can decide to rent a car, grab a taxi, or use public transportation to go Hartberg.
Attractions & Landmarks In Hartberg
Rising atop Ringkogel hill, the majestic 30-meter Ringwarte is one of the main attractions of the town. From here, guests may savor amazing panoramic views of the Hartberg basin, the grand Eastern Alps, and the vast Pannonian Plain.
For those like history, the Romanischer Karner is absolutely must-see. One of Hartberg’s oldest and best-preserved Romanesque chapels, this one features statues and elaborate murals that offer a window into the town’s legendary past.
A further architectural treasure is the 13th-century castle Schloss Hartberg. Currently containing the Museum Hartberg and Ökopark Hartberg, this amazing construction functions as a cultural and educational center. As you tour the displays and discover the intriguing past of the town, really engage with the rich cultural legacy of the area.
Hartberg is not far from Stift Pöllau, a Baroque Benedictine monastery with a remarkable collection of art and relics and a magnificent cathedral. Just fifteen kilometers distant, this spiritual haven provides a calm haven from the daily grind.
A visit to Tierwelt Herberstein, a zoo and natural park situated just 20 kilometers from Hartberg, will thrill animal buffs. This immersive experience seems to be the highlight of your trip with over 700 animals and a number of extra attractions.
Things To Do In Hartberg
Should your interests be in history and culture, a trip to Stift Pöllau is strongly advised. Originally founded in the 12th century, this Benedictine abbey has evolved into a dynamic hub of activity. Events, shows, and concerts held by the abbey let guests appreciate the magnificent frescoes and baroque architecture within the church.
See Ökopark Hartberg for an original and instructive encounter. Combining science, education, and entertainment, this ecological park presents displays and seminars on biodiversity, climate change, and renewable energy. Families would find the park to be ideal because of its playground, maze, and mini-golf as well. Children as well as adults pay admission fees.
Should you enjoy astronomy, don’t miss the Sternwarte am oekopark Hartberg. This observatory, which is housed within Ökopark Hartberg, provides guided tours and professional lectures so that guests may view and value the beauty of stars, planets, and celestial bodies. Tickets cost for adults as well as for children.
Apart from these attractions, Hartberg presents a variety of activities to discover its old town, visit cultural museums and galleries, and savor regional cuisine and wine. Hartberg has something for everyone regardless of your interests—nature, history, or just a quiet retreat.
Food & Drinks In Hartberg
Charming Austria town Hartberg is well-known for its magnificent castle and quaint old town. The town has a range of cuisine and beverages, including a family-run brewery and restaurant known as Bottega Hartberg, which makes its own beer and whisky using natural ingredients and age-old techniques. The cafe and bar there is also family-run and Nestled close to Hartberg Castle in a historic edifice, Hotel Restaurant Pusswald specializes in Styrian food influenced by Mediterranean and Asian tastes.
Another brewery and restaurant, Toni Bräu, makes its own beer, cider, and schnapps using organic, regional products, therefore offering a taste of local culture and heritage. Serving traditional cuisine and seasonal delicacies, the classic Austrian restaurant and inn Zum Brauhaus Gasthof-Restaurant Pizzeria-Ristorante Casa Mulino presents Italian cuisine with a lovely atmosphere and outside dining area. Modern and hip, Netzwerk 1117 is a restaurant and bar combining American, Austrian, and European food.
With a daily menu and la carte choices, BB1 Restaurant “Am Bahnhof” is a reasonably priced and handy eatery next to the train station. Children’s petting zoo and playground make Gasthof Purrer a family-friendly restaurant. Offering local wine and cuisine, Buschenchank Breitenberger is a classic and rustic wine tavern.
Accommodations & Hotels In Hartberg
Hartberg boasts a range of lodging options ranging from bio hotels to modern flats to old structures and comfortable cottages. Among the notable hotels are Gasthof Restaurant Zum Brauhaus in the Old Town beside the Baroque church, Hotel Restaurant Pusswald, a family-owned resort noted for regional Austrian cuisine, and Boutique-Hotel Alter Gerichtshof, a 4-star establishment built in a castle-style building from the 17th century. Among unusual choices are Hunter’s Suite, Ferienhaus zur Opernsängerin, Ferienhaus zur Opernsängerin, and Landhaus im Hartbergerland.
Offering large rooms with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and private bathrooms, Boutique-Hotel Alter Gerichtshof is a 4-star property housed in a 17th-century castle-style construction. Modern Hotel Restaurant Pusswald, close to Hartberg Castle, provides chic rooms featuring free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, satellite TVs, DVD players, safes, and private bathrooms.
Offering basic, cosy rooms with free Wi-Fi, satellite TVs, desks, and private bathrooms, the 3-star Der Schildbacherhof is in a quiet region. Offering large and opulent rooms with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, seating spaces, and private bathrooms, the 4-star Der Pfarrhof hotel is housed in a historic structure.
Modern rooms with free Wi-Fi, satellite TVs, minibars, and private bathrooms at Hartberg’s 4-star Wilfinger Ring Bio Hotel provide The hotel also boasts a bar, a spa center including an indoor pool, sauna, steam bath, hot tub, and exercise room, and a restaurant featuring vegetarian and organic cuisine. The hotel presents other therapies and treatments as well.
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Hartberg - Info Card
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Hartberg is a city in Styria, Austria, the capital of the Hartberg-Fürstenfeld District |
| Elevation | Hartberg has an elevation of 359 m (1,178 ft) above sea level |
| Population | Hartberg has a population of 6,764 as of 2023 |
| Tourism office | Hartberg has a tourism office located at Alleestraße 56, 8230 Hartberg |
| Postal code | Hartberg has the postal code 8230 |
| Phone prefix | Hartberg has the phone prefix +43 3332 |
| Area | Hartberg has a total area of 21.53 km 2 (8.31 sq mi) |
| Established | Hartberg was founded in 1122 by margrave Leopold I of Styria |
| GDP | Hartberg has a GDP of € 1,036.9 million as of 2019 |
| Language | Hartberg’s official language is German |
| License Plate | Hartberg’s vehicle registration code is HF |
| Districts & Neighborhoods | Hartberg has 11 districts and neighborhoods: Hartberg, Eggendorf, Habersdorf, Lebing, Löffelbach, Ring, Safenau, Schildbach, Siebenbrunn, Stegenwald, and Wiesenhöf |
| Weather & Climate | Hartberg has a temperate continental climate with four distinct seasons. The average annual temperature is 9.4 °C (48.9 °F) and the average annual precipitation is 849 mm (33.4 in) |
| Best Time To Visit | Hartberg is a year-round travel destination; the ideal time to come will rely on your tastes.Hiking and cycling would be best in spring and autumn; summer is fantastic for outdoor events and celebrations; winter is ideal for skiing and snowshoeing. |
| Attractions & Landmarks | Hartberg offers a lot of attractions and sites including the Ringkogel hill with its prehistoric settlement and two towers, the medieval town center with its town hall and church, the Schloss Hartberg castle with its museum and park, the Pöllau Valley Nature Park with its varied flora and fauna, and the thermal spa Bad Waltersdorf with its wellness and leisure activities. |
