Riegerin

The Riegerin is a mountain in the Hochschwab range in Styria, Austria. It stands at 1,939 metres above sea level and forms a clear massif with steep walls and gentler high plateaus. The massif includes the Riegerin summit, the Predigtstuhl, the Grosse Schober and the Schoenberg. A narrow ridge links the Riegerin to the main Hochschwab crest and its isolated rock tower called the Turm.

The mountain is rarely climbed and has only one marked route. This path starts in Brunntal valley, crosses the Rothmaeuer gorge with ladders and cables, and reaches the Riegerin Alm before the summit. Other routes, such as the traverse over the Grosse Schober, are reserved for experienced climbers. The Riegerin’s rocks are mainly Steinalm and Wetterstein limestone and dolomite, with unusual pale pink to greyish limestones at the base.

Visitors who take the marked route find themselves on a secured via ferrata through the Rothmaeuer gorge. Above the gorge the path opens onto the Riegerin Alm, a high plateau framed by the Riegerin, Grosse Schober and Schoenberg peaks. The summit itself offers wide views over the Hochschwab’s rolling plateaus and steep valley walls. The contrast between the rugged gorge and the gentle highland creates a striking landscape.