Styria Hotels Austria

Styria Styria (Steiemark) is the second largest(16. 4K sq km) of nine Austrian states situated in the southeast of Austria. It shares borders with Slovenia and Hungary, and the other Austrian States of Upper and Lower Austria, Salzburg, Burgenland and Carinthia, and has a population of around 1. 2 million. The capital city is Graz.

Styria’s terrain is diverse: across the state there are valleys, rivers, vineyards, mountains and glaciers. Often called the “Green Province” because of the large area covered by forests (56%): and 75% of the land is mountainous – a landscape excellent for outdoor and winter sport enthusiasts. Upper Styria extends in the north from the Limestone alps to the eastern groups of the Central Alps, and the valleys of the Mur, Murz Salza and Upper Enns rivers.

Lower Styria is upland and hill country. South of Graz is the wine growing area and is called the “Styrian Tuscany”. In addition there are thermal spas in the eastern part of Styria.

The wild northwestern areas have huge glaciers in the Styrian part of Dachstein. Southern Styria has a favourable climate due to the Pannonian Plain to the east, though northern Styria has an alpine climate – with high rainfall and short brisk summers. The inner alpine valleys have less rain, being protected by the high mountain ridges.

Styria has well-marked routes for tourists. These include the flower tour – visiting the nine famous flower villages, and the Apple tour –past a million fruit trees and handicrafts! Visitors are also attracted to visit the three wine areas and the many imposing castles in the area, not to mention visiting the thermal baths at the spa towns.