Riegersburg.

Riegersburg sits below one of Styria's largest castles, built on a basalt cone that rises around 200 meters above the surrounding plain. The fortress has guarded this stretch of eastern Austria since the Middle Ages, its walls following the shape of the volcanic rock. Inside, the Hexenmuseum tells the story of witch trials once held here, alongside armories and staterooms open for viewing.

The village and countryside around the castle belong to the Vulkanland Steiermark, a region where extinct volcanoes shaped both the landscape and the soil. Vineyards planted on this volcanic ground produce wines with a mineral character distinct from other parts of Styria, sold and poured in small taverns scattered through the hills. Paths lead from the village up through vineyards and orchards toward the castle walls, giving walkers changing views of the basalt cliffs and the flat farmland beyond.