The old town of Murau nestles amid extensive forests in the upper valley of Styria's principal river the Mur, at the foot of the Stolzalpe, which rises to over 1,800m/5,900ft. In summer Murau is a good base for excursions, walks and climbs in the surrounding valleys and hills; in winter the Frauenalpe in the south (2,004m/6,577ft) and the Kreischberg in the northwest (2,050m/6,728ft) offer excellent skiing.
Above the left bank of the Mur in Murau stands the Early Gothic parish church of St Matthew (13th C.). It contains some fine frescos, mainly 14th C., and a Gothic Crucifixion group, which once formed part of the main altar, later to form part of the nave when the church was remodeled in Baroque. In front of the church entrance will be found a fine "lantern of the dead".
North of Murau lies the resort of Schöder (898m/2,946ft), with a Late Gothic church (frescos) and the impressive Günsten Falls. From here a toll road crosses the Sölker-Tauern pass (1,790m/5,873ft) into the Enns valley.
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