The Palace Route links up a number of fine palaces and castles in Burgenland and Styria. It extends from the Festenburg near Bruck an der Lafnitz in the north to Bad Radkersburg in the south. Visiting all of the palaces and castles entails around 350 kilometres of driving through some of the most beautiful scenic routes making this one of the most popular tours in Austria.

The special history of Styria and Burgenland has made them regions with the highest density of palaces and castles in the world. There are no fewer than nineteen of them along the route: imposing witnesses of a bygone ages going right back to the twelfth century in which chivalry and the culture of the landed gentry held sway. The castles were originally built to ward off invaders from the east, and they formed what came to be known as the ”Fence of the Holy Roman Empire”. Over the centuries most of them were refashioned into stately and palatial Gothic, Renaissance or Baroque residences.
Today these fine palaces harbour a wealth of leisure opportunities – golf and tennis, but also thermal spa resorts or ideal starting-points for touring the region’s culinary attractions or enjoying its scenic beauties from a bicycle saddle.

HIGHLIGHT: Herberstein Palace
This architectural jewel in eastern Styria is a blend of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque building styles. The magnificent Baronial Hall and the Italianate Florentine Court vividly document the pre-eminence of the Herberstein dynasty. Other attractions include: the historic park and Sigmund Garden with multimedia room (guided tours daily at 2pm), zoo with more than 500 animals from all over the world, guided tours and zoo school.
Open:
Daily all year round, summer 8am – 6pm, winter 10am – 4pm

Accommodations