Power place Spielmäuer

Name: Power place Spielmäuer
Brand: Steiermark
Rating: 5 (2 reviews)

Accessible by public transport

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty medium

Route 7,2 km

Time 2:15 h

Uphill 552 hm

Downhill 552 hm

Highest point 1354 m

Hike from Wegscheid near Mariazell to the summit cross of the Spielmäuer, past the "legendary" Devil's Bridge.

This hike is an easy to moderately difficult hike. The first 500 m we are on a gravel path, cross the Gollradbach once on a bridge and finally reach a forest path, which we follow to the summit cross.

The entire forest path is lined with roots, here it is especially important to be careful on the way back so as not to slip or stumble.

Most of the time it goes comfortably slightly uphill, after the crossroads to the summit cross (summit via Teufelsbrücke or summit via Normalweg) the path starts to climb a bit more.

Opening hours: ATTENTION: The climbing park Spielmäuer (and also the hike) is closed from September 16 to October 14 (deer rut) and from November 16 to April 30 (winter rest).

Open: From May 1 to September 15 and from October 15 to November 15, daily 2 hours after sunrise to 2 hours before sunset.

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

More information

Detailed information on how to get there can be found here.

We start our hike in Wegscheid at the parking lot on the B20. We cross the federal road and reach the hiking trail via a forest road and the bridge over the Gollradbach after about 500 m. Now we walk along a narrow forest path to the summit cross. The entire forest path is lined with roots, here you have to be careful, especially on the way back, not to slip or stumble. Most of the time the trail runs gently uphill, after the crossroads to the summit cross (summit via Teufelsbrücke or summit via Normalweg) the trail starts to climb a bit more.

We take the same way back. If we alternatively follow the normal path in the direction of Wegscheid, we no longer pass the Devil's Bridge, but after a short time we also get back to the original path.

The legend of the devil's bridge:

Long ago, the devil appeared every year at the solstice on the narrow rocky ridge above Wegscheid. He lured the young farmers and farmhands from the surrounding area with a bet:

Whoever dared to cross the narrow rock and reached the other end, he promised everlasting wealth. However, whoever fell into the depths fell directly into hell and had to serve the devil for eternity. Year after year, the devil took souls from the surrounding area, until one day a young squire from the nearby mines got involved in the bet.

To ensure his victory, the devil made it rain and storm. The squire, however, had shod the soles of his shoes with iron thorns and thus found enough grip to get over the rocky ridge. The devil, beside himself with rage, smashed his head against the rock with such force that a hole appeared in it. The squire went home victorious and prosperous. Even from a distance he could see the hole in the rock, the hole under the devil's bridge.

For all climbing enthusiasts there is the possibility to reach the summit cross via one of the three via ferratas (www.kletterpark-mariazellerland.com).

Timetables and travel information can be found directly at: www.oebb.at

www.busbahnbim.at

The parking lot is located directly on the B20, at the "Gh zum Maurer" (please observe the parking regulations).

Tourism Association Hochsteiermark - Office Mariazeller Land

Main square 13, 8630 Mariazell

T: +43 3882 2366

tourismus@hochsteiermark.at

www.hochsteiermark.at

www.kletterpark-mariazellerland.com

The SommerAktiv hiking map is available free of charge at the office of the Hochsteiermark Tourism Association - Mariazeller Land Office.