Hartberg

Member of the Austria National Network

How historical and contemporary unite brilliantly. 

Welcome to a town whose roots date back more than 2,500 years. Just as Hartberg was the major meeting point of the colourful aristocracy in the Styrian Mark in medieval times, it is now a radiant cultural town, laden with history, a hot spot for good food and drink and an open-minded, friendly place for enthusiasts, dreamers and connoisseurs. The historical centre is characterised by St. Martin, its commanding baroque parish church, the Town Hall and the chemist’s with its formidable portal. 

Besides the atmospheric Old Town, the district town offers modern locations. The Maxoom at Ecopark houses the biggest screen in Styria and shows breathtaking videos and documentaries. The classic Kröpfl car Museum is also worth visiting as well as the Ringkogel Observation Tower with a stunning panoramic view over the Eastern Styrian downs.

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Geographical area 
Hartberg is situated in eastern Styria / Austria. Due to the A2 motorway and the B 54 main road (Wechselbundesstraße), the B 50 main road and the L 401 provincial road, Hartberg district and predominantly Hartberg Municipality as the central place are very well developed in southern, eastern and north-eastern directions. As the central linchpin between Graz and Vienna, Hartberg is also the access gate to Hungary.

Parallel to the B 54 main road, the Aspang railway (Austrian Federal Railways) leads from Wiener Neustadt to Hartberg and then to Fürstenfeld (side line of the Südbahn railway route)

Hartberg – How historical and contemporary unite brilliantly
Welcome to a town whose roots date back more than 2,500 years. Just as Hartberg was the major meeting point of the colourful aristocracy in the Styrian Mark in medieval times, it is now a radiant cultural town, invite with history, a hot spot for good food and drink and an open-minded, friendly place for enthusiasts, dreamers and connoisseurs.

A Castle in the Centre of the Town. It was acquired from the Paar dynasty, who were later decreed princes, and reconstructed into a Renaissance castle in 1572. In the 17th century an arcade wing was added. From the piece and quiet of the Castle’s Park you can immerse yourself in the hustle and bustle of the town. In Herrengasse there is the Steinpeiß House adjacent to the former court. In 1834 a second town hall was housed here which now accommodates the Town Museum showing an interesting documentary about early history and the Roman period.

The Romanesque Charnel House with its grandiose frescoes is located in the immediate vicinity. The building was first set up under the patronage of the priest Ulrich in the 12th century who then was the highest-ranking clergyman. It used to be a charnel house and became a baptistery. It was only in the 17th century that the rectory was built. The portal with its plastering around it and the plastered ceiling and frescoes with scenes from the Old Testament in the basement are really worth seeing.

The Ringwarte is an observation tower on the hill of Ringkogel and offers a terrific panoramic view of the Eastern Styrian downs. The Ringwarte was built in 1906 and was fully renovated on the occasion of its 100th anniversary; furthermore, a new refuge was set up.

Hartberg’s position in the natural scenery and its development is not only characterised by the Ringkogel but also by the Hartberger Gmoos which is located in a spacious valley south of the town.

Natural environment and living spaces left to nature alone are not only valuable tools for preserving plant and animal species, but also play a vital role as near-natural habitats in close vicinity to housing developments. 

Due to these distinctive features, Hartberger Gmoos became a European Reserve on June 11, 2005.

Today, Hartberger Gmoos is an integrated part of the town- a protected area for rare animal and plant species, nestled into a cultural landscape worth living in. Hartberger Gmoos is a stabilising climatic factor and, simultaneously, a generous space for recreation, lingering and experiencing adventures, with sport and health facilities at its borders - Natural Adventure Hartberger Gmoos.

ECOPARK Hartberg
Ecopark is to form a symbiosis of work, research and education. This is a unique project in Europe!

Ecopark is based on an innovative three-column concept, enclosing a network of independent commercial enterprises dealing with environmental concerns and an Applied Research Centre as well as leisure and exhibition facilities. 

Park for commerce and research
Ecopark is an ideal environment for enterprises which are commercially engaged in ecology. Besides general operation activities, state-of-the-art circular economy is applied from the scientific point of view (supply and waste management of the entire premises are more or less a closed circuit). What is more, in cooperation with our partner Joanneum Research, University of Applied Sciences, on-site research is being done. To round off what this microcosmos has to offer, ample room for scientific, cultural and economic training and seminars is available.

Adventure park
Austria’s first infotainment park came into being by connecting ecology, economy, leisure and adventure, resulting in a sustainable experience for all its visitors. The notion of adventure is an integral part of Ecopark and offers unique attractions for the whole family. Locally resident companies allow the visitors to have a look behind the scenes. We invite you to come here and gain an insight into how work and research is done in harmony with nature. 

MAXOOM at Hartberg Ecopark – Austria’s largest screen
The former IMAX®-Wien is now at the Ecopark site as one of 35 large format cinemas Europe wide and inspires young and old with its 400 m² screen, spectacular natural-scientific movies and the impressive AQUA & terra water and terraria exhibition in the foyer of the movie.

Main events We have a lot of events, take a look at http://www.hartberg.at
Motor Myhtos Classic (oldtimer ralley)
BeachDays - Volleyball event - A-Cup Trophy (July) ClariArte - international musicfestival (21. - 30. 08. 09)
winemaker festival and new: città slow festival (10. 10. 09)

Typical Products
Pumpkinseedoil (Kürbiskernöl)
Hartberg rose
Hartberg wine

MERGEFORMATINET 
The farmer’s market takes place every Tuesday and Friday from 12pm to 6.30pm at Kernstockplatz in front of the Capuchin Monastery.
Easter Market and Garden Exhibition
An annual Easter market and garden exhibition takes places in the Town Park on the Friday and Saturday before Holy Week. Here you can discover and savour decorative arts, rural specialities, Easter decorations, garden trends and much more.
Christmas Market
In the Advent season the Christmas market is the best venue in the Main Square of Hartberg Old Town. On the Friday before first Advent Sunday, the market is officially opened with candlelight shopping, turning the place into a magical winter fairyland. Opening times are from Thursday to Sunday, 2pm to 7pm. Additionally, the Christmas market is open on December 8th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd from 2pm to 7pm. 
Annual Markets
Traditional annual markets are the Ash Wednesday market in February and the Kathrein market in November.

Cittaslow Projects
- repositioning as “city of sense” 
- Città slow festival with regional products and handcraft (10.10.2009)
- Culture a “Hartberg Rose”
- Slow food education for gastronomy and schools
- visit fairs
- support the buy of e-bikes
- House of sense (regional products, arts, handcraft …)
- Cooperation with the leader region “Oststeirisches Kernland” (35 communities)

Slow Food presidia
Manfred Flieser
Founded 1999 Slow Food Styria 
International advisor for Slow FoodMail: slowlife@a1.net
Web: www.slowfoodaustria.at

Contact:

Regina Hinze - Representatives of Cittaslow
Stadtmarketing Hartberg
Hauptplatz 10, 8230 Hartberg
Phone: +43 3332/603-45
Mail: regina.hinze@hartberg.at