Leoben Travel Guide, Austria

Leoben, Travel Guide – Location

Leoben is set in the beautiful green valley of the Mur River, in central Austria. Leoben travel guide brings you the main features of this city, recognized for its mining industry and beautiful architecture.

Leoben, Travel Guide – Topography and Climate

The main features of the local topography in Leoben are the beautiful Mur valley crossing the city and the surrounding green rolling hills which seem to stretch beyond the horizon. The unique blend between the old city landscapes and the offering nature surrounding the city determine Leoben to be one of the most attractive tourist spots in Styria.

Climate in this area is temperate continental with hot summers and snowy winters. The average maximum temperatures are registered in July and coincide with the wet period of the year while the average minimum ones are reached in December and January.

Mur River played an important economic role for the city, being used mainly for transporting iron ore from the nearby mines to the industrial areas and is still admired and priced for its picturesque banks and rapid waters.

Leoben, Travel Guide – Flora and Fauna

Leoben, like most Austrian cities, are privileged to be surrounded by a large green hilly area and to be crossed by the Mur River which again brings a fresh touch to the city’s image. Within the city flora can be admired wherever you look, from the majestic oaks and acorns found along the alleys to the colorful decorative plants and bushes populating the main parks. Outside the city limits tourists will be impressed by the numerous vineyards and orchards spread over the surrounding hills and the former iron mines from Eisenerz Mountain.

Fauna is richer at the outskirts of Leoben and is represented by rodents, deer, hare, pheasants, partridge and more. Aquatic fauna is also well represented and diverse, the waters of the Mur River housing countless fish species, amphibians and attracting waterfowl.

Leoben, Travel Guide – Population

Leoben is a small provincial city with a number of 25.000 people, which was set in this area due the mining activities developed nearby the city. Throughout the centuries Leoben has developed into major industrial and educational center housing besides the mining industry also an important public university, the University of Leoben, which specializes every year an important number of students.

Leoben, Travel Guide – Culture and Arts

Cultural life in Leoben takes place around the local theatre, which is one of the oldest in the entire country, philharmonic orchestra and other institutions which organize specific events. Locals and tourists can enjoy every year the summer philharmonic concerts which take place every July and the wonderful theatre plays performed by local and guest artists.

Leoben, Travel Guide – Transport

Access to Leoben is easy and tourists have the opportunity to reach the city by all means of transport. Modern highways and railways connect Leoben with the rest of Europe while Gratz Airport offers the best options for tourists traveling by air. If you land in Graz you must definitely visit the city and Vienna is also nearby.

Within the city there is a wide network of public buses which can be a great option when visiting the city and its surroundings but for the downtown, especially the old city center, tourists usually choose to walk due to small distance between tourist attractions. Renting a bike is also a popular method, especially in summer when you get the chance to enjoy more of the outdoor Leoben.

Leoben, Travel Guide – Festivals

The main festival in the city is connected to the economic activity that has written history in Leoben and that is mining. Miners Parade is the most important event of the year in Leoben, celebrated by everyone with traditional music and food, lots of local beer and special church ceremonies, which used to protect the ones working in the iron mines.