Welcome to Hartberg

Welcome to Hartberg

cit y of The senses

city of ses nes Theesese ns city of Th

Welcome to Hartberg

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ne could explain the expression – Città Slow this way.

It refers to a fantastic certificate of excellence, sought by all countries on all continents, which is bestowed on cities based on criteria which are just as strict as they area worth striving for: it describes that highest stage of pleasure and enjoyment, about consciously slowing down to concentrate on local beauty, uniqueness and healthy living. Just over 100 cities and places around the world have been allowed to refer to themselves with this expression, so far. And now, Hartberg! In 2009 the city was presented with this rare award, and quite rightly so, as the entire jury concurred in its opinion that one couldn’t imagine a higher quality of life anywhere.

The city, its surroundings, the people! By the way: We have translated Città Slow as Stadt der Sinne or city of the senses, and in Hartberg, that’s what it’s all about.

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artberg would like to extend warm greetings to all its visitors and to invite you to have a pleasurable stay in this area which is so full of history. No one will find it difficult to enjoy themselves and get a new lease on life, as feelings of well-being and living the good life seem to create themselves spontaneously, once one has begun to sample the manifold possibilities which both town and countryside have to offer. The urban flair and the idyllic surroundings are possessed of an extraordinary, quiet beauty. Its geographic location, situated where alpine heights nestle effortlessly into Pannonian plains, promises an endless variety of unforgettable experiences you won’t want to miss, delving deeper and deeper into the joys and sheer wonderment of discovery, just as the Romans did two thousand years ago, settling in the area and planting grape orchards in the rich volcanic soil to produce wine that lifts the spirits, just as the Celts did before them. Just as we do today, setting off of an early morning into deep, dark forests, coming upon a wondrous panorama, seen from rolling hillsides with their flowering meadows and untouched beauty, or bathing in hot springs which flow out over the plains below, returning of an evening to taste prizewinning wines and outstanding culinary delights. And of course the town of Hartberg, which presents itself as do the people who live there – deeply rooted in history, yet with a clear, open view to current trends and what lies ahead. But, do us the honour and come and see for yourself.

look schau amol “Aus dem Schauen nicht herauskommen“ or, “you can’t get enough of something” is the way in German to describe a sensation that simply won’t let you take your eyes away from something, that directs your glance back and forth, that makes you want to rub your eyes and check again to see that, whatever it seems to be, it’s really there, perhaps just a detail, then the entirety, close up or far away or somewhere in between, something that has taken that glance captive, that’s cap-

tured your whole perspective. It can easily happen in Hartberg that you find yourself looking just for the sake of looking, or you catch yourself lost in a daydream. Just letting go is all right nowadays, at least it is here in Hartberg. Everything looks so inviting.

The “Altstadt” or downtown area is historic, and that’s a fact, signed and sealed. If you would just step this way please … We’re standing here in the middle of a very wide, very broad square, “Hartplatz”, perhaps one

Hartberg offers true quality of life and invites you to a pleasurable stay in an area which is full of history.

of the most magnificent of its kind. But we’re not here to draw comparisons. The poet Goethe once wrote that “a thing of beauty is a world unto itself”, and truly this is a feeling that is almost palpable as it lifts you off your feet, making everything around seem so light and airy. Just look at the Baroque church, and there’s the historic town hall, why the whole square fairly sparkles with its cafés, inns and tiny shops (the milliner!). A few steps through the arches of the parish hall bring us within sight of the city tower, which contains a chamber of bones. From them a breath of history emanates, wafting past, breathing life back into by-gone ages, bidding them to arise before our inner eye, and we blend right in – yesterday, tomorrow, here and now.

Turning around, we look up toward the “Ringkogel”, towering protectively over the Altstadt. There, remains have been found which date back to the Romans and even to the time of the Celts. The Roman Villa is a sight well worth seeing. And from more recent times there’s the Hartberg Castle, the original city ramparts with their watchtowers, the narrow, picturesque streets, the brook running through the town, the colour­ful farmers’ market. We mean all of this when we maintain that being on the lookout for things to discover in Hartberg is a pleasurable pursuit. city of The senses

taste schmeck amol As far as the country around Hartberg is

concerned, it’s hard to know where to begin; people from around here take great pride in knowing just where to drink and dine in comfort. This is not just a saying, it’s a fact, and one that can be proven, considering all the prizes and awards the region has earned and continues to receive. For all those who value the quality and competence behind what they are experiencing over the cost, you will have ample opportunity to put

your personal standards to the test, say at an eatery belonging to one of the area’s many vintners, offering wine his family has grown themselves, in company with others, enjoying themselves too. Wherever you look you’ll discover many of these specialty wine restaurants, each one better than the next, one might say. Starting with the wine, made from the best grapes and grown since ancient times in choice terrain, it is light and refreshing as it enlivens the spirit – it’s

Come and enjoy the taste of prizewinning wines and outstanding culinary delights from the farmers of the region.

no wonder that annually countless ribbons presented for excellence beckon. What’s true is true. The country cuisine, served with charm and style is a fine tradition which completes the experience – consumate pleasure giving you every reason to celebrate and enjoy life. Who’s going to deny that!

By the way, eastern Styria has its own natural resource, which people refer to as ‘our green gold’: Styrian pumpkin seed oil.

It has even made its way into Hollywood’s hearts and tastes, particularly as, in addition to its characteristic, nut-like aroma, it is also known for its healthful properties, something especially important to the male of the species it’s claimed. Farmers and millers cooperate in the oil’s production,

extracting it chiefly by hand. Caution, however, is advised: once you’ve tried it, you’ll never want to be without it. Just ask your Canadian brother-in-law … It’s all about taste, which means savouring life to the full.

Naturally we dare not neglect to mention the numerous organic farmers and those using planting and production methods which are as environmentally safe as possible, who supply us with vegetables, meat, fish, eggs and bread of such high quality that we can’t help being grateful for their daily efforts in our behalf. After all, life comes from life.

city of The senses

smell

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Have we mentioned the fact that Hartberg is known among its inhabitants as the “city of the senses”? We call it that because Hartberg is a city of the senses, apart from any cliché, just by virtue of its being itself. From this point of view it’s just a question of being open to the rich spectrum the senses have to choose from, just a matter of really having arrived at last, with the chance to experience the wealth the town and its surroundings have to offer. Why don’t you pull

out your antennae, really let it all sink in?

Feels good doesn’t it? It’s such an effortless exercise, after all.

Naturally, we are right here in the middle of what is known throughout the country as “Austria’s garden”. And calling such a natural paradise this is no idle boast.

We have already spoken about looking and tasting and other senses with which we can delight in what the region has to offer.

Now it’s all about our sense of smell, more

The urban flair and the idyllic surroundings are possessed of an extraordinary, quiet beauty.

specifically about breathing. We’d like you to begin, wherever you are, by taking a deep breath through the nose, exhaling slowly out of your mouth, pleasurably, and without even opening your eyes, you sense that you’re right in the middle of some of the most wondrous surroundings nature has to offer, such as for example in Hartberg’s “Gmoos”, immediately in front of the gates to the city. You can tell just by the scent of the air what season it is, whether it’s a snowy note in winter, just a breath of the delicate fragrance of spring, freshly mown grass in summer or the mellow ripening of autumn days and nights. Marvellous! And on the outskirts, the woods give off a soft fluidity, rich with the essence of woody density.

Ahh, here’s a new one: Roman camomile,

prized for centuries, has found the perfect terra in Hartberg, just as lavender has long flourished in the Provence.

It can’t be denied, naturally, that there is another sort of odour, perhaps not quite as delicate, but nonetheless just as inviting to young and old alike, and this smell is to be found in the Herberstein wild animal park, an exemplary animal reserve as concerns the way the animals are kept and treated.

For those who’d like to get up close to the animals, there’s the children’s zoo, which brings us back to feeling and looking and listening and … city of The senses

feel gschpur amol ..

True quality of life has to be seen removed

from the context of time’s passing, in the sense that it’s not affected by the fashions of the day, trends which, hardly upon us, fade as quickly as they came. Examples of this development, unfortunately, aren’t difficult to find; regions which once enjoyed fame and fortune are only known in name today, having paid an exorbitant price for their rapid rise to prominence. Visitors quickly began to take their business elsewhere, leaving

in their wake the ghosts of buildings erected in haste, with neither an overall design nor plan to keep them alive. In retrospect, we in the region around Hartberg have long been enormously fortunate to have been thought of and treated as a hidden treasure, a city and a region to be sought out only by those gourmets and connoisseurs who would appreciate the treasures they discovered. We weren’t as well-known to visitors as might have been possible, but this protected us

The town is quiet and the countryside peaceful. Accordingly, you will find out-of-the way hideaways and a large number of modern-day spas, with all the comforts the discerning visitor can ask for. from the architectural blunders made elsewhere. And today, we have just what our visitors have been looking for.

With this in mind, we refer to that quality of life which all visitors who find themselves in our vicinity sense, visitors who appreciate just that original, natural quality which abhors compromise and is true to itself. The town is quiet, the countryside peaceful, in the very best sense. Accordingly, you will find out-of-the way hideaways and a large number of modern-day spas, with all the comforts the discerning visitor can ask for, as well as historical buildings, restored and made into hotels, offering traditional fare.

Hartberg has the good fortune to be truly blessed with the infrastructure it has to offer – hotels, inns, specialty wine restaurants,

hot springs, the unadulterated outdoors, its particular climatic conditions etc. – which, in addition to the proverbial friendliness and openness of our inhabitants, may be one of the reasons so many couples choose it as the venue for their wedding, even couples who are not from the area. It’s easy for them to decide where they want that most solemn of life’s ceremonies to be held.

What else does Hartberg have on its side?

The fact that you can take nice, long strides, just the way travellers and holiday-makers love to do, means you can make the most of all the glorious hiking trails that lead the wanderer on a path of discovery through a rich and varied landscape, which by the way, contains one of the largest number of castles and fortresses in all of Europe.

city of The senses

listen hear amol The fact that Hartberg may claim the op-

era singer Nina Bernsteiner and the Vienna Philharmonic’s young tuba player, Christoph Gigler, both performers of international renown, as their own is good for Hartberg. And these are just two of the outstanding personalities on the verge of great careers. How many others might there be, who haven’t yet come to public attention?

Who is behind the annual ClariArte, the modest, specialty music festival, which

in the meantime, has begun to attract an audience of fans and aficionados from far and wide? Who are those musicians who have dedicated themselves to the promotion and preservation of the very best that Styrian folk music has to offer? And who is behind Backwood, that 3-man bunch of guys, whose calling is their passion, attracting great singers and songwriters to Hartberg?

Well, first and foremost, let’s be clear about one thing: you can also just listen to

People in Hartberg love to celebrate, therefore you will find a number of festivals during the year. And every single party comes along with a wide range of good music.

the birds singing, and we know that there’s no sound any human being could ever produce which could even begin to compare with such rich subtlety of expression. And why are we even mentioning this? Because it’s not something to be taken for granted, that in such a modern setting, you could experience the outdoors so readily. People have been known to escape to the furthermost reaches of the desert, just to get away from the glare urban lightening creates, in order to be able to gaze at the heavens. Here, the warbling of birds is still considered music, as welcome as the sunshine.

So about those questions at the beginning: ClariArte represents one of the high points of Hartberg’s summer of culture, during which the world’s finest clarinettists,

such as Helmut Hödl, perform, encouraging the world’s best symphony orchestras to drop by and stay a while too.

Those who provide and promote genuine folk music are as numerous as they, at times, are anonymous – real music lovers that every self-respecting city or town needs. Then there are the music teachers in the public schools, dedicated pedagogues, who encourage young talent early, giving it a chance to mature properly. Examples of their efforts are endless.

And best of all: We can enjoy all of this right in the first row, with plenty of legroom so to speak, when it’s a question of top-quality music making. Who wouldn’t realize just how lucky they were, to be right here in the middle of Hartberg.

city of The senses

Welcome to Hartberg How to find us …

Czech R epublic Slov akia

Vienna

Ger many

A u s t r i a

Styria Graz

city of The senses

Hartberg Hung ar y

Italy

Slovenia

Schloss Vorau

Naturpark Pöllauer Tal

Weiz

Bad Tatzmannsdorf

Hartberger Land

Pöllau

Naturpark Almenland

Vienna

Hartberg

Schloss Herberstein Bad Waltersdorf

Stegersbach

Bad Blumau Gleisdorf

Graz

A2

Fürstenfeld Therme Loipersdorf

Concept and Design: marketing meets media & buero8 Text: Gerd Hofer Translation: Pamela Cordell Photography: Bernhard Bergmann Head of Marketing: Regina Hinze

HSI Hartberg Standortentwicklung u. Immobilien GmbH Stadmarketing Hartberg Hauptplatz 10, 8230 Hartberg T: +43(0)3332/603-300 stadtmarketing@hartberg.at www.hartberg.at