Steirischer Seeberg Pass to Oberkapfenberg

June 1, 2026

Brightening skies this morning encouraged me, but the rain soon came again, and swirling clouds on the hilltops argued against a local hike. Further south in Styria, it was predicted to be warmer and drier, and there was a bus departing in two hours, so I headed to the Basilica dominating the town.

The Basilica is a pilgrimage site dedicated to a statue if Mary carved from lime wood said to perform miracles. I remained for a mass with organ music that was just starting. On the way to the bus, the smell of cooking gingerbread enticed passersby (me included) into a shop for the local specialty.

The bus had large windows (1), affording fine views of the Alpine scenery heading over the Steirischer Seeberg Pass into Styria. The road up to the pass had a gentle grade, while the descent to the south was steeper and effected by a series of switchbacks. 

(1) Boarding the bus, telling the driver my destination ("Kapfenberg Bahnhof bitte"), with my credit card at the ready, the driver pointed at the card reader and said something that ended in "kaput." A cash fare it would have to be.

Clouds swirling over the hilltops dissuaded me from a local hike at Mariazell

The miraculous statue

Basilika of Maria

Gradually ascending to the oasis from the north

Descending the south side of Steirischer Seeberg Pass

Syrian countryside

Hiking up to Burg Oberkapfenberg

Another trail snail

At the Castle

View north

Up to Loretta Kappele

Views from the chapel

On the road back down to town

Across the Murz river

At the Konzerhaus, Vienna for a piano concert