Gleinalpe

The Gleinalpe is a broad range of low mountains in Styria, north-west of Graz. It stretches for about fifty kilometres from Leoben to Köflach and thirty from Frohnleiten to Knittelfeld, forming part of the Lavanttal Alps. The highest point is the Lenzmoarkogel at 1991 metres. For centuries the Gleinalpe was a remote pasture region with difficult packhorse routes around the Mur bend. The Gleinalmtunnel of the A9 motorway changed this by cutting an eight-kilometre link between Upper Austria and Graz. In the south-western foothills the Lipizzaner mares graze each summer near Gleinalmschutzhaus, giving the area its modern name Lipizzanerheimat. A small pilgrimage church, Maria Schnee, stands on the Gleinalmsattel and holds summer services on Marian feast days. The mountains are built of ancient crystalline rocks divided into two main units: the Gleinalm complex and the Mugel-Rennfeld complex. The landscape offers long valley roads from the Mur valley that lead to open alpine pastures and gentle summits. Waymarked trails include the Nord-Süd-Weitwanderweg and the Zentralalpenweg, though the gaps between huts make for long, tough stages. Among the few refuges are the Hochanger Schutzhaus, Mugelschutzhaus and Steinplan Schutzhaus, each perched on a summit or crest with wide views over Styria.