Lipizzaner Stud Farm

Lipizzaner Stud Farm Review

The hamlet of Piber on the northeast outskirts of Köflach is devoted to raising horses. The world-famous stallions that perform at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna come from the Lipizzaner Stud Farm. These snow-white horses trace their lineage back to 1580, when Archduke Karl of Styria established a stud farm at Lipica, near Trieste, using stallions from Arabia and mares from Spain. After World War I, when Austria lost Lipica, the farm was transferred to the estate of Piber Castle (which can be seen when concerts are offered during the summer months). Born black, the steeds gradually turn white between the ages of two and seven. To get to Piber from Graz, follow Route 70 west or take a train to Köflach and then a railway bus to Piber. The whole trip takes about an hour. There is a fine and festive restaurant, the Spanish Caballero, on-site in the castle.