Why Stainz? West Styria Beyond the Classics

The honest answer: because Stainz has nothing to prove. The town sits right in the middle of the Schilcherland, surrounded by gentle hills, wine roads, and small Buschenschanks that nobody bothers to advertise, because they don't need to.

What the region has, without shouting about it

• The Schilcherland: vineyards as far as the eye can see, and the hard-to-translate Schilcher wine, which you really only understand once you've tasted it here, on its home ground.
• The Stainzbach stream: not a river for rafting adventures, but for a slow walk or a fishing rod you simply dip into the water for a while.
• Small Buschenschanks instead of big restaurant chains – winegrowers pouring their own wine and cooking their own food, often without much of a menu at all.

What's nearby if you do want more on the agenda

Graz is a good 40 minutes away for anyone after culture and city life. Those who'd rather stay outdoors will find golf courses in the surrounding area, cycling routes through the vineyards, and – weather permitting – the new outdoor pool right in Stainz.

The difference between Stainz and Styria's better-known destinations is rarely one of quality – it's pace. Stainz doesn't push itself forward. It simply lies there, ready to be discovered by those who aren't chasing the next big landmark to check off, but looking for one that stays with them.

What would be worth discovering in West Styria that you don't know yet? Explore our places to visit or read more about the Stainz region.