Sulm

The Sulm is a river in Southern Styria, flowing eastwards towards the Mur through Deutschlandsberg and Leibnitz. Its two source rivers, Schwarze and Weiße Sulm, begin on the eastern slopes of the Koralpe, a mountain range separating Styria from Carinthia. The Sulm valley stretches from the Western Styrian hills to the Eastern Styrian lowlands, with a flat bed formed from quaternary deposits. The river was once prone to flooding but was regulated from the 1960s onward. The Sausal mountain range in the valley has a mild microclimate, supporting much of Styria’s wine-growing.

The Sulm valley has been a key east-west route since the Neolithic period, with archaeological finds dating back to that time. During the Iron Age, a settlement on the Burgstallkogel between Gleinstätten and Großklein held regional importance, and its necropolis remains one of Central Europe’s best-preserved. The Frauenberg hill near Leibnitz was a sacred site in Neolithic and Celtic times, later bearing a Roman temple. The valley was resettled by Bavarian emissaries in the 10th and 11th centuries after a period of sparse population. Many settlements likely date to the 9th century when the region was reclaimed from earlier inhabitants.

The Sulm valley’s economy centres on agriculture, wine-growing on the hillsides, and pumpkin seed oil production. Tourism has grown, with hiking and cycling routes drawing visitors to the scenic landscape. The valley’s clay deposits, exploited for brick manufacturing, earned locals the nickname Gelbfüße. A former railway line, now mostly converted to a biotope, reflects the valley’s past. The region’s friendly relations with Slovenia contrast with historical tensions, particularly over territorial claims in 1947. Today, the Sulm valley blends natural beauty with cultural heritage, offering a quiet corner of Austria.