Family Travel Plans 2019: Visiting Murau, Austria

In collaboration with Haus Agnes Guesthouse

We have already planned out most of our 2019 holidays as we had to: since Bobcat is in school, we can’t just set off whenever we can – or when the prices are more reasonable. Don’t even get me started on this stupid school attendance thing, but I do believe that travel is actually very good for children. One of the reasons we travel with the children from very early age is that we want them to become a global citizen. We want them to learn that, although we may speak a different language, eat different food and have a different cultural heritage, we are all the same. It teaches them important life skills about accepting and respecting our fellow human beings, flexibility (this is very important for my son with ASD!), planning and execution in action. Anyway… As I said we had to make plans earlier and pay more but here we go. 

We are most excited about our trip to Austria this summer, we are going to visit Murau in Styria (Steiermark), where I’ve been before since it’s so close to Hungary and also a short drive to the airports in Vienna and Salzburg. But I always went for ski holidays in winter and never have actually been during summertime. Styria is beautiful in every season. In summer there’s plenty of hiking to do on the lush green, rolling hills – just like stepping into The Sound of Music.

Acommodation: Haus Agnes

One of my best friends runs a guest house there, and that’s where we’re going to stay: Haus Agnes. It’s situated in a quite street of Murau, 6-8 minutes walking distance from the town centre and the River Mur. (We are going to drive from Hungary as we will visit my parents beforehand so it shouldn’t be more than 4 hours drive.) Apart from being a winter sport hot spot, Murau is also known for the Murauer Bier along with its brewing tradition, documented since the 15th century. Another interesting happening every year is the the annual Shakespeare presents productions of Shakespeare plays in the town’s Festival Hall, in the Courtyard of the Murau Castle.

Our plans in Murau

Bicycle rides with the children – there are lots of cycling routes in the region, for all type of bikes and capabilities. Cycling routes along the Mur or through gentle, rolling hills, shady forests and idyllic valleys, so quite doable with children too, when they are sat in the child seat. Even for them to try, a short bike ride.

Spa day in Hallenbad – it’s a spa complex with both indoor and outdoor swimming pools as well as finish sauna, steam cabin, infra cabin and and massage. The outdoor swimming pool is actually a “Freibad”, which is a natural lake feeding from the spring running down from the nearby mountains. 

Playing golf – husband loves his golf and it might time for Bobcat to take a crash course too at the Murau Golfclub whilst I can take my girl for a cake or ice cream in the town.

Visiting the Murtalbahn Steam Railway – we do love trains, both the children and of course especially Bobcat is a big fan of them. The steam train takes you for a pretty picturesque ride from Murau to Tamsweg.