Geography Of Hartberg

Hartberg is a city in the lovely Styria, Austria. Acting as the Hartberg-Fürstenfeld District’s capital. This area covered 21.58 km and had a population of 6,449 in 2014. Hartberg boasts an interesting past spanning the Neolithic era and beyond.Margrave Leopold I of Styria founded the settlement in 1122 and for a period of time it acted as the main centre for Styria.

Location

Hartberg lies near to the Burgenland border in eastern Styria. About 68 km northeast of Graz, the city of Styria, and about 120km south of Vienna, the capital of Austria.

Hartberg sits in the lovely valley of the Safenbach, a little tributary of the Feistritz that elegantly joins with the Raab. Beautiful Eastern Alpine mountains, including the Joglland, the Bucklige Welt, and the Wechsel, round the city.

Hartberg borders the following regions:

To the north: Bucklige Welt (Lower Austria) and Wechselland (Burgenland)
To the east: Südburgenland (Burgenland)
To the south: Fürstenfeld and Bad Waltersdorf (Styria)
To the west: Pöllau and Vorau (Styria)

One may easily get Hartberg by train and car. Just off the A2 Autobahn, this area easily links Vienna and Graz. Hartberg also conveniently connects via a network of regional routes to nearby towns and villages.Convenient links to Graz, Vienna, and several other locations in Styria and Burgenland are offered by the Hartberg train station.

Scenic Views

Hartberg’s varied environment and cultural legacy help to provide numerous beautiful vistas. Among the finest locations to appreciate Hartberg’s vistas are:

The Masenberg has a panoramic perspective over the city and the valley of Safenbach. A castle and a chapel there also add to the historical and cultural worth of the perspective.
The Hochwechsel presents a panoramic perspective over the Styrian plain and the Eastern Alps. Additionally a popular hiking destination and ski resort adds to the natural and leisure value of the perspective.
Offering a panoramic perspective over the Hartberg basin and the Bucklige Welt, the Ringkogel A prehistoric settlement exists there as well, which increases the view’s archaeological and historical worth.

Terrain and Topography

Hartberg’s geology and landscape are varied, ranging from mountainous and wooded sections to level, rich plains. While the adjacent mountains and hills climb to heights of up to 1,500 m, the city rests 359 m above sea level. Rising 1,743 m, the Hochwechsel is the highest point in the district.

Mountain Ranges

Terrain and Topography

Hartberg lies in the Eastern Alps, a major mountain range in Central Europe. Various well-known mountain ranges define Hartberg’s topography:

Styria and Lower Austria’s natural border is the lovely mountain range known as The Wechsel. Comprising sedimentary rocks, this geological section is known as the Greywacke zone. Offering chances for hiking, skiing, and cycling, the Wechsel is a very sought-after spot for outdoor enthusiasts.
From the Wechsel to the Leitha Mountains, the bucolic and lovely Bucklige Welt spans Part of the Greywacke zone as well, this area boasts many orchards, gorgeous rolling hills, and rich meadows.
To the south of the Wechsel, the Joglland is a lovely area distinguished by its steep landscape and rich forests. Comprising granite and gneiss among other crystalline rocks, the area is part of the Central Eastern Alps.For people who value the wonders of the natural world, the Joglland is a favourite place since it offers amazing views, well-kept walking pathways and lots of animals.

Key Mountain Peaks

Terrain and Topography

Near Hartberg, some of the main mountain summits are:

Hartberg-Fürstenfeld’s tallest mountain, the Hochwechsel, stands also in the Wechsel district. Rising 1,743 m, it provides a panoramic perspective of the nearby areas. It’s also a trekking attraction in summer and a well-liked winter ski resort.
The second highest peak of the Wechsel and the top point of Burgenland is The Hutwisch. Situated on the edge between Styria and Burgenland, it has a height of 1,478 m.It is also a well-liked hiking location and ski resort.
One notable hill rising above Hartberg is the Masenberg. It is the location of a church and a fortress and stands at 822 m.It is both a cultural monument and a well-liked viewing spot.

Notable Summits

Terrain and Topography

Among the several prominent summits close to Hartberg are:

Rising at 635 m and north of Hartberg, the Ringkogel is a hill. Beginning in the third century BC, this is the site of one of the most significant prehistoric towns of Styria. Surrounded by a vast fortification wall, of which only two towers survive, the town In addition a historical monument and a popular hiking spot is the Ringkogel.
Rising at 622 m and situated south of Hartberg, the Geierkogel hill It is the site of a medieval castle, destroyed by Turks in 1532.In addition a historical monument and a famous hiking site is the Geierkogel.
With an elevation of 1,445 m, the Schöckl mountain runs west of Hartberg It is a section of the Grazer Bergland mountain range encircling Graz. Mountain biking, paragliding, and hiking all find popularity on the Schöckl.It provides also a panoramic perspective of the Eastern Alps and the Styrian plain.

Valleys and Basins

Hartberg sits in the valley of the Safenbach, a little river running through the city and merging with the Feistritz. Part of the Hartberg basin, a level and rich territory spanning much of the Hartberg-Fürstenfeld district, the Safenbach valley is The Wechsel, Bucklige Welt, Joglland to the north and east, and Grazer Bergland and Pöllauer Berge round the Hartberg basin from the west and south.

Several of the notable valleys close to Hartberg are:

Following the course of the Feistritz, a tributary of the Raab, the Feistritz valley is a small and twisting valley. Part of the Styrian thermal zone, the Feistritz valley is a spa and tourism destination noted for its hot springs, vineyards, and castles. Additionally a popular spot for canoeing, fishing, and cycling is the Feistritz valley.
Driven by the Pöllauer Safen, a tributary of the Feistritz, the vast and verdant Pöllauer valley sits west of Hartberg and is Comprising an area of 105 km2 and boasting varied flora and wildlife, the Pöllauer valley is a component of the Naturpark Pöllauer Tal.Popular for hiking, bicycling, and cultural activities is also the Pöllauer valley.
Following the path of the Lafnitz, a tributary of the Raab, the long, level valley known as Lafnitz Part of the Raab-Örség-Goricko Biosphere Reserve, a protected region spanning three nations— Austria, Hungary, and Slovenia—the Lafnitz valley forms the border between Styria and Burgenland.Popular for fishing, birdwatching, and riding also is the Lafnitz valley.

Geological Features

Hartberg lies in a geologically varied region with many kinds of rocks and formations visible. The main geological elements influencing Hartberg’s topography are:

Covering much of Styria’s northern and eastern areas as well as Lower Austria and Burgenland, the Greywacke zone is a geological unit. Sandstone, shale, and conglomerate among other sedimentary rocks were deposited in a marine environment throughout the Paleozoic epoch.Low and forested mountains, such the Bucklige Welt and the Wechsel, define the Greywacke zone.
Covering much of Styria’s southern and western areas as well as extending into Carinthia and Salzburg, the Central Eastern Alps is a geological unit Made of crystalline rocks—granite, gneiss, and schist—formed by the collision of the African and European plates during the Alpine orogeny, it isHigh and craggy mountains like the Joglland and the Schöckl define the Central Eastern Alps.
The Styrian basin is a geological entity spanning Styria’s center area into Burgenland and Slovenia. Made of sedimentary rocks deposited in a lacustrine environment during the Neogene era, limestone, marl, and clay make up it.Like the Hartberg basin and the Feistritz valley, the Styrian basin is defined by level, rich plains.

Flora and Fauna

Hartberg’s varying topography and temperature help to produce a variety flora and fauna. Hartberg boasts mostly of the following kinds of vegetation:

Covering the slopes and mountains of the Wechsel, the Bucklige Welt, and the Joglland, deciduous forests define Among the most often occurring tree species are birch, maple, beech, and oak. Among the several animals found in the woodlands are deer, foxes, badgers, squirrels, and birds.
Grasslands covering the Hartberg basin’s plains and valleys as well as the Feistritz valley Rye, wheat, barley, and maize are the most often occurring grass species. Agriculture and animals including pigs, lambs, and cows find use in the grasslands.
Wetlands include the banks and floodplains of the Lafnitz, Feistritz, and Safenbach. Among the most often occurring plant species are willows, sedges, and reeds. Fish, frogs, turtles, and birds among other water life find home in the marshes.

Bodies of Water

Hartberg’s geography and hydrology are influenced by various artificial and natural bodies of water. Hartberg’s water bodies primarily consist of the following kinds:

Mostly manmade and produced by dams or reservoirs, lakes are Part of the Naturpark Pöllauer Tal, the most prominent lake close to Hartberg is the shallow, big Stubenbergsee lake west of the town. Swimming, boating, and fishing are common activities at the Stubenbergsee.
Mostly tributaries of the Raab, a main river running through Styria and Hungary, rivers and streams The Feistritz, which runs through the city and connects the Raab close to Fürstenfeld, is the most significant river close to Hartberg. For Hartberg and its environs, the Feistritz provides both water and energy.