Riegersburg - Castle Riegersburg (Leopolds Klettersteig, shorter C variant)

Access to the starting point:
a) Via Border crossing Šentilj, drive into Austria and then take the motorway towards Vienna. Leave the motorway at the Ilz exit and drive for about 15 minutes to Riegersburg.
b) Via Border crossing Radgona drive to Radgona / Radkersburg, then drive through Obrajna / Halbenrain, where you turn right in the direction of Bad Gleichenberg and Vrbna / Feldbach. At the Vrbna bypass, turn right towards Riegersburg and Ilz, then drive for about 10 minutes to Riegersburg.
The car parks in Riegersburg are often busy, so it is a good idea to be at the starting point very early.
The route starts at the entrance to Riegersburg Castle, by the Nah und frisch shop. The entrance fee is EUR 2. The route described above is closed from 31. 10. - 1. 3.

Path description:
The route starts in Riegersburg, by the Nah und Frisch shop, and goes up to the entrance of the castle. We pay the €6 entrance fee (August 2018) and move on.
The way forward takes us through the castle entrances, Steintellertor and Cillitor. A footpath to the right leads to the castle (we can descend this way), and we go straight ahead, where there is an information board with three climbing route options (shorter and longer C and the extremely difficult D option). From the information board, continue west to a bench where you can put on your helmet and self-protection kit.
After an easy start, you will quickly reach a very exposed spot (the ferrata is not for the dizzy as it is very airy and precipitous all the time). Soon we reach a short climb, followed by a traverse of smooth slabs.
The next part is a bit easier, but the route goes almost vertically upwards. There is a slight incline, and then we reach a bench where we are rewarded with an outstanding view of the city below.
After the bench, the path leads to the most challenging part, where you will have to change the side of the rope a couple of times (it goes straight up), and then there is a part where the smaller climbers will have some difficulty with a short vertical climb. There is also a wall off the extremely difficult D variant.
Then comes the slightly easier part, where we cross the smooth slabs and see the castle walls in front of us, which means that we have already climbed two thirds of the way up.
Once you reach the walls, the route changes direction and goes from west to north-west. Here you will once again cross smooth rock slabs and reach a crossroads where you will rejoin the D route. Continue in the direction of the shorter C variant (straight on the longer C variant) and start climbing steeply. We are aided by steps carved into the wall, and at the very exit of the wall we are aided by a couple of crampons on the almost vertical ascent.
The route ends on the terrace of the inn, where you can rest.
I also recommend a visit to the castle, as it is truly remarkable.
Let's descend on the footpath.
I advise against walking in the rain.

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