Fresh air. Take a deep breath. Inhale. One, two, three. Exhale. Close your eyes and you will see green mountains, alpine surroundings, lush forests, crystal clear lakes. It feels good right? Imagine to that, adding spas, towns surrounded by vineyards and artistic treasures. YES, the Region of Styria, in Austria, offers all of that. But stop, if to all of the above, we add that in that area, there is the historic Spielberg Circuit, that is already having too much on our hands. It is a paradise for sports lovers, both winter and summer, and hundreds of activities to enjoy surrounded by nature. Styria is the most bucolic and green region of the country and one of the regions with the highest density of forests in Europe; 60% of its territory is populated by forests, which is why it is called “The green heart of Austria“, a concept that fans and Eurocup-3 pilots fall in love with.
Three key things to do in Spielberg
1. Dive in the Grüner See. It’s amazing that you can enjoy Eurocup-3 and in less than an hour by car, you can immerse yourself in the Grüner See. It is a very special lake that appears in summer when temperatures rise and with it the mountains thaw. But in winter it is a park where you can walk. In fact, a series of benches are scattered to sit after a long walk; but when the water rises, they remain submerged. It’s surreal, fish swimming between the trees and the emerald green water. The plan is to hire a diving team and a guide. For 70 euros an hour, you can swim as if you were flying through the mountains. Then, you can explore the entire surroundings of the lake on a trekking route connected by trails and also another area that can be visited by bicycle. There are no excuses not to do sports!
2. Visit Graz. We find this city 70 km from the circuit. It is the largest in the Styria Region and is a must-see for architecture lovers. Walking through its cobbled streets, we will feel what the Habsburg dynasty saw among a disparate collection of Renaissance, Gothic, Baroque and even Art Noveau facades. This rich architectural mix was responsible, in part, for the historic center of Graz, known as ‘Altstadt‘, being named a World Heritage Site in 1999. You can close the afternoon on a corner next to a coffee and a Linz Cake: The oldest cake in the world. In 1653, the clarified butter tart filled with fruit appeared for the first time in a cookbook. Do you like the plan?.
3. Get to know Riegersburg Castle. If we reach the top of the tower, we will be 482 meters high on a rocky hill impregnable from any attack by the barbarians, Turkish and Hungarian invaders who were besieging the fortification. This is Riegersburg Castle, which incredibly was built on a dormant volcano. It can only be accessed on foot or by cable car. It was built in the 11th century, and modified in the 17th century, from which three kilometers of walls remain. The first gentleman known to have lived there was Rudiger von Hohenberg. Over the centuries the castle has had many different owners, today it is owned by the Prince of Liechtenstein. Of the 108 rooms of the castle, about 15 are open to the public showing its interior, it also has a museum of Witches, in the basement, where the black history of their persecution is discussed, and another museum about the history of the castle itself. From the outdoor terrace-bar, the views are fantastic.
