Kleegraben: Miners’ Tower, Chapels and Hilly Landscape

Kleegraben lies on the hills south of Ilz, between the Ilz and Rittschein valleys. Its location provides a clear geographical reference; the landscape, culture and local food and drink also shape the area. The Miners’ Tower combines panoramic views with a reminder of the former lignite mining industry. Chapels add religious and historical features, while the Ilzer Rosenapfel hiking trail passes through the landscape of Kleegraben/Ilzberg. Brunner Winery adds to the picture with wines and local specialities. This gives travellers several distinct themes to explore, rather than just a single viewpoint.

Miners’ Tower: Mining History and Views

The Miners’ Tower was built beside Brunner Winery in Kleegraben. On its front, a mine cart, known as a Grubenhunt, symbolises the entrance to a mine tunnel. A map mounted at the lookout tower shows former mine entrances and tunnels. From the platform, visitors can see across the former coal-mining area; the view also extends over the eastern Styrian hills, taking in Riegersburg and reaching as far as the Koralpe and Rabenwald. The map and the view from the platform complement each other: the map shows individual traces of past mining, while the view places the former coal-mining area within a broader landscape. Lignite mining was particularly extensive in Kleegraben until it closed in 1964.

Chapels and Their Distinctive Associations

The chapels also add their own distinctive features. The Berglerkapelle, also known as the Knappenkapelle, is a protected monument in Kleegraben. The Eggerkapelle invites visitors to pause for quiet prayer. Miners once visited the Barbarakapelle. These distinctions are important: the Berglerkapelle is notable for its protected-monument status, the Eggerkapelle for its invitation to quiet prayer, and the Barbarakapelle for its former visits by miners.

Hiking Trail and Winery

The Ilzer Rosenapfel hiking trail passes through the landscape of Kleegraben/Ilzberg. Unlike the Miners’ Tower, whose platform opens up views across the former coal-mining area and the wider hilly landscape, the hiking trail focuses on the scenery along the route. This gives you a practical distinction to consider when planning: the tower brings together panoramic views and mining history in one place, while the trail takes you through the landscape.

Brunner Winery is known for its wines and local specialities. As a traditional Buschenschank wine tavern, it also offers tastings on site. The Miners’ Tower was built beside the winery. Here, two distinct sides of Kleegraben come together: wine and regional specialities on the one hand, and panoramic views and mining history on the other.

The area’s mining connections are not limited to the Miners’ Tower. There, the focus is on the mine cart, the map and views across the former coal-mining area; at the chapels, they are reflected in the name Knappenkapelle and in the miners’ historical visits to the Barbarakapelle. These different connections complement one another without making the individual places seem alike.

Discover more destinations: Neudau, Riegersdorf, Vorau, Sankt Stefan, Ilz, Burgau, Kaibing, Pöllau

For the higher-level travel overview: Hartberg-Fürstenfeld.