Plabutsch

Der Plabutsch is a low mountain range west of Graz in Styria, stretching about ten kilometres from north to south. It forms the southern edge of the Graz Uplands and rises 400 metres above the city. The range separates the city from the Graz Basin to the east and the Styrian Riedelland to the west. The Plabutsch is worth visiting for its two lookout towers. The Fürstenwarte at the summit of the Fürstenstand offers wide views over Graz. The Kronprinz-Rudolf-Warte on the Buchkogel provides another fine panorama. The range also has a long history of quarrying, supplying building stone and lime for many of Graz’s old buildings. Traces of these works can still be seen along the slopes. Visitors find a mostly wooded landscape with open meadows on the southern flanks. Two small ponds, the Bründlteiche, lie at the foot of the Buchkogel. The range is crossed by several footpaths and cycle routes, including the route to the Einsiedeleigrotte cave near Algersdorf. The area is protected as a landscape conservation area, supporting rare plants and animals.