The Naturpark Almenland nature preserve is part of eastern Styria. Located in the midst of Styria, it is just 50 km north of the state and cultural capital Graz. With its 125 contiguous alpine pastures, the Almenland is one of Austria’s largest alpine regions, making it ideal for hiking and relaxing family holidays!
Sometime, usually around mid-April, spring comes to the Almenland! After just a few warmer days, the last remnants of snow disappear from the mountain pastures as though by magic. Yet suddenly they turn white again. The sun has enticed many thousands of white and sometimes also pink crocuses from the moist alpine soil: crocus meadows as far as the eye can see, making a hike over the mountain pastures a very special experience!
Spring comes a bit sooner to the valleys, with trees in meadow orchards already blooming in fields of intensely yellow dandelions. Here the dandelion bloom is so extensive that bee keepers even offer pure dandelion honey. The "Löwenzahn-Festtage - dandelion festival" celebrated across the Almenland at the beginning of May is an homage to this versatile plant. Spring-fresh culinary art, naturally featuring the dandelion, is combined with a colourful selection of events during this time.
Things get lively on the mountain pastures at the end of May when the livestock is let out to graze. A high point of the year is the “Ross auslassen” (letting out the horses) at the beginning of June, with the colourful mixed herd of horses determining their ranking order for a summer spent together on the mountain pastures. Our alpine livestock gets to do what everybody wants: stay all summer!
We will see you during the spring in Naturpark Almenland!
