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

Access to starting point:
A) Via the Šentilj border crossing we drive to Austria, then we drive on the motorway in the direction of Vienna / Wien. We leave the motorway at the Ilz exit, then we drive for approximately 15 minutes to the settlement Riegersburg.
B) Via the Radgona border crossing we drive to Radgona / Radkersburg, then we drive through Obrajna / Halbenrain, where we go right in the direction of the settlement Bad Gleichenberg and settlement Vrbna / Feldbach. On the Vrbna bypass we go right in the direction of the settlement Riegersburg and Ilz, then we drive for approximately 10 minutes to the settlement Riegersburg.
Parking spaces in the settlement Riegersburg are often occupied, therefore it is good to be at the starting point very early.
The path starts at the entrance to the castle Riegersburg next to the store Nah und frisch. Entrance fee is 2 eur. The described path is closed from 31.10. to 1.3.

Route description:
The path starts in the town Riegersburg, by the store Nah und Frisch, where we go up to the entrance into the castle. We pay 6 eur entrance fee (August 2018) and go ahead.
The path ahead leads us through the entrance into the castle, Steintellertor and Cillitor. Right ahead goes the footpath to the castle (on this path we can descend), we go straight, where there is an information board with three variants of climbing paths (shorter and longer C and extremely demanding D variant). From the information board we go further to the west, where we come to a bench, where we put on a helmet and self-belay set.
After an easier beginning we will quickly come to a very exposed spot (ferrata isn't for the vertiginous, because it is very airy and all the time precipitous). We soon arrive at a shorter ascent, then follows crossing of smooth slabs.
The next part is somewhat easier, but the path goes almost vertically upwards. Then follows a smaller overhang, then we arrive at a bench, where we will be rewarded with an exceptional view of the town below us.
After the bench the path brings us to the most difficult part, where we will have to change sides of the steel cable a few times (it runs straight upwards), then follows a part where shorter people will have some difficulties on the shorter vertical ascent. Here is also a turn-off to the extremely demanding D variant.
Then follows a somewhat easier part, where we cross smooth slabs, ahead of us we will notice the castle wall, which means that we have climbed already two thirds of the path.
When we come to the wall the path changes direction and from west passes to northwest. Here we once again cross smooth rocky slabs and arrive at a junction, where we rejoin the D variant of the path. We continue in the direction of the shorter C variant (straight longer C variant) and begin to ascend steeply. Carved steps in the wall assist us, at the very exit from the wall some pegs assist us on the almost vertical ascent.
The path ends on the terrace of the inn, where we rest.
I recommend also visiting the castle, because it is truly exceptional.
We descend on the footpath.
The path is not recommended after rain.

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