Pitten: History, Culture and Nature

Pitten combines a long history with exhibition venues, historic buildings and outdoor activities. Its themes range from Bronze Age traces and medieval evidence to industrial history, art, roses and bees. The leisure activities also offer a variety of options: hiking trails with panoramic views sit alongside the Rose Garden and the weather-dependent Schlossbad swimming pool. When planning your trip, you can compare these cultural and natural attractions to see which are of particular interest during your stay.

Discover history in a variety of places

A fortified settlement already stood on Pitten’s Schlossberg during the Bronze Age, around 1500 BC. The castle complex on the hill was resettled by the 11th century at the latest and served as a regional seat of power for the prominent Counts of Formbach. Written sources refer to it as “castellum Butinu(m).” If you would rather explore Pitten’s history at several stops than at a single historic site, the “Zeitsprünge 4000” History Trail takes you on a journey through 4,000 years of Pitten’s history, with five stops along the way.

The PIZ1000 – Pitten Regional Museum displays Bronze Age and Roman finds, a deed of donation from 869, the lament for the Nibelungenlied, and the Pitten Corvinus Cup from 1485. The local history section covers the development of industry, including mining and papermaking, as well as the history of tourism and summer holidays in the 19th century. Archaeological finds and historic written records are presented alongside themes from industrial and tourism history.

An art gallery at PIZ1000 introduces the painter Sepp Buchner (1920–2000), who spent much of his life in Pitten. The rock church and the listed rectory also offer their own historical points of interest: the rare rock church is located directly behind the mountain church and contains 13th-century frescoes. The rectory’s history dates back to the 17th century; following extensive restoration, it has regained its early Baroque splendor.

Art and creative pursuits

At the Buchner Studio, Christine Buchner exhibits her paintings. Photographs by her son and works by young international artists are also on display. The exhibits therefore include paintings, photography and work from an international artistic community. Painting courses and seminars can be booked at the studio throughout the year. For travelers who are interested not only in exhibitions but also in creating art themselves, these courses offer another option to consider when planning a trip.

Hiking trails, bees and roses

Numerous hiking trails in Pitten lead to higher ground and offer panoramic views. The Pitten Bee Nature Trail offers a different perspective: ten information boards explain the history of beekeeping, bees as organisms, bee products and bee decline. The trail also features artistically designed beehives. While the hiking trails focus on views and higher elevations, the nature trail explores the lives of bees and beekeeping.

Pitten’s Rose Garden is another natural highlight. More than 100 different varieties of roses can be discovered and enjoyed for their fragrance across its 1,600 square meters, including rugosa roses, English roses and hybrid tea roses. Admission is free. The garden’s size and variety of roses give it a different focus from the explanatory boards along the Bee Nature Trail.

A day at the Schlossbad swimming pool

Pitten’s Schlossbad offers a day of swimming for the whole family, a long blue waterslide and a small slide in the paddling pool. The facilities include a spacious sunbathing lawn with a lovely view of historic Pitten. The Schlossbad’s opening is weather-dependent, so bear this in mind when planning your visit. Alongside historical and nature-related attractions, Pitten also offers specific outdoor leisure activities to enjoy during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Kranichberg, Gasteil, Aspang-Markt, Neunkirchen, Breitenstein, Reichenau An Der Rax, Aspangberg Sankt Peter, Otterthal.

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