Lunch with a view in Riegersburg, Austria

There are few places where a simple lunch feels like a moment of pure serenity, and WIPPL’s Hofbergstub’n, perched on a hillside overlooking Riegersburg Castle, is one of them. I visited with my family on a crisp autumn afternoon, and from the moment we arrived, the view took center stage. The terrace opens to a sweeping panorama of rolling valleys, patchwork fields, and tiny villages scattered among trees brushed in shades of gold and rust. The air carried that familiar scent of autumn, cool, earthy, and alive. The kids were ready to eat, but so where we…

In the distance, Riegersburg Castle stood proudly atop its volcanic hill, like a timeless guardian watching over the Styrian countryside. We settled at a table inside but still had a nice view, the kind where every glance feels like a postcard. Lunch came soon after, hearty, homemade, and comforting. I had fried chicken liver, crispy on the outside and tender within, served the old-fashioned way. It was the perfect match for the rustic surroundings.

What made the visit even more special was sharing it with family. Between laughter, conversations, and bites of food, we kept pausing to simply admire the view, the castle, the gentle slopes, and the calm rhythm of rural life unfolding below. It was one of those peaceful pauses that remind you why autumn in Styria feels so magical. As we left, the afternoon sun dipped lower, softening the colors even more — amber light spilling over vineyards and forests, the sky fading into pastel blues and greys. It was the kind of beauty that lingers, both in memory and in photos. We had a great day in Riegersburg.