Via Alpina continues further along the 05 trail, i.e. it crosses the main road, runs in parallel to it for a while longer until the road heads off into the distance after a right-turn. After only approx. 20min, you arrive at the Wimpffenalm meadow. Next, dip back into the wood. The path practically takes an entirely flat course for around 1,550m. Although the trail is still very wide initially, it gradually narrows into a track that remains as such, with the exception of a short stretch along a forest road, until reaching the Turneralm meadow. At the Turneralm, the 05 trail meets the 02, the central alpine trail. At this important intersection, you must turn westwards, in other words to the left and follow the 02 trail to the Steinplan and the Steinplan Hut, which are open in the summer months during weekends and holidays (2h 30min). After just over half a kilometre from the Steinplan, Via Alpina turns eastwards, to the right and follows the track to the Jobstbauer Hut. Through a thickly wooded area that is repeatedly crossed by meadows, the trail continues to the Watzenbacher Hut and on along a gentle descent to the chapel in the Lenzenalm meadow. A forest road takes you through the wood down into the municipality of Rachau. In Rachau, keep to the left again, follow the road for approx. 2.5km and then, crossing the stream, turn off to the left towards the Gobernitzberg. The trail leads through the wood on the other side down to Gobernitz. Now you are practically already standing at the gates of Knittelfeld. You just need to cross the River Mur and follow the road into the town centre of Knittelfeld.
(Christina Schwann, OeAV)
 

Knittelfeld (Chnutelvelde) is mentioned in a document for the first time in 1224. The name supposedly refers to the land clearing zone in the Aichfeld area. In 1302, the locality of Knittelfeld was granted town status by Rudolf II. Economically speaking, it stood in the shadow of the town of Judenburg in the Middle Ages and its seal was of green wax until the end of the 16th century. The great upturn came with the industrial revolution. In 1861, the work on the railway through the Murtal valley was started, and in 1868 the first train stopped in Knittelfeld. The boiler house of 1865 was developed into the main operations centre of the Austrian railways, which for many decades generated employment for most of the population. Knittelfeld also goes by the nickname of "Eisenbahnerstadt" (railwaymen’s town). In February 1945, the town was almost completely destroyed by bombs. It took several decades to fill in the gaps again. For instance, the town’s parish church only regained its old tower in the year 2000. Today, Knittelfeld is one of the most densely populated communities in Styria. Special emphasis must therefore be laid on the preservation and care of the parks and the surrounding leisure areas such as the Ingeringau. In addition to this, Knittelfeld has gradually turned into a congress centre in recent years, offering two highly modern conference rooms and several 5-star hotels.
(Christina Schwann, OeAV)