Vinofaktur Genussregal - Stainz Castle - Graz

Route: Maribor - Vinofaktur Genussregal - Stainz Castle - Graz - Maribor
Duration: 9 h
Our first stop will be in the small town Vogau in South Styria, where lies Vinofaktur Genussregal, Styria’s largest wine shop which offers more than 2,500 different regional wines and delicacies from South Styria. What makes a visit to Vinofaktur essential is its unique architecture and its exhibition area which not only celebrates the culinary achievements of the region but also gives you a chance to experience them. What makes the shop’s architecture intriguing is the numerous shipping containers stacked on top of the store like a shelf. The interactive exhibition is thoroughly enjoyable and explains how high-quality raw products are processed into unique foods, using special production processes. The presence of 40 tasting stations gives you the unique opportunity to sample products from various manufacturers such as pumpkin seed oil, nibble kernels in many flavors, numerous oils, different vinegar flavors, honey, jam, volcano ham, chutneys, different kinds of pumpkin, pesto, chocolate, etc. Along the way, you get to sample some Styrian white wine as well! The tour ends with the possibility to purchase some wine and culinary products. It’s a great place to buy gifts and souvenirs. Our next stop in this tour will be at the residence of the "Styrian prince" -  Stainz Castle. On the southern foothills of the "Rosenkogel", in the heart of western Styria, this historic building sits enthroned above the roofs of the city of Stainz, surrounded by its own vineyards and orchards. The castle was built in 1229 as an Augustinian monastery by Luitbold of Wildon. Its roots are the splendid Baroque and Renaissance complex, which is particularly evident in the church of St. Catherine, with its magnificent stucco work. In 1784 Emperor Francis II secularised the canons of the monastery and in 1840 Archduke Johann bought the castle from the state property for 250,000 guilders. Since then, Stainz Castle is owned by Archduke Johann's descendants, the Counts of Meran, for whom it is not just a residential but also an economic seat. Franz of Meran leads the legacy of his famous ancestors with the utmost commitment and modern business principles. In addition to the owners' living spaces, there is the castle, the hunting museum and the agricultural museum, both belonging to the Styrian Joanneum Universal Museum. Next we will reach Austria’s second-largest city which is looks most relaxed and an instant heart-stealer, with abundant parkland, a sea of red rooftops and a narrow but fast-flowing river loudly gushing through its centre. A very beautiful bluff – connected to the centre by steps, a funicular and a glass lift – is the city's signature attribute. Architecturally, Graz hints at nearby Italy with its Renaissance courtyards and baroque palaces. That said, there's a youthful energy here too, with a handful of edgily modern buildings, a vibrant arts scene and upbeat, student-fuelled nightlife. This extends to both sides of the Mur, although the Lend district, across from the historic centre, skews young and edgy. Our tour will show you not only old center Graz  but thePalace Eggenberg and Mariatrost too. On our journey, take in the view as we drive through tree lined avenues and districts built in the ´Gründerzeit” (mid nineteenth century), past some notable contemporary architecture of the university and away and beyond to the edge of the city.  During the tour you will see and know about the Old Town Graz,Schlossberg and the Clock Tower,The Styrian Armoury, The Landhaus and Courtyard, Graz Art Museum, Murinsel, Graz Cathedral and Mausoleum, Mariatrost Basilica, Schloss Eggenberg, The Municipal Park and Botanical Gardens. After we return to Maribor.
Price: Per person