Piber is home to the world-famous Lipizzaner stallion stud farm Bundesgestüt Piber. Originally the farm was based in Lipica (Slovenia) but was moved here when Slovenia was annexed after WWI. About 40 to 50 foals are born at the farm every year, but of these only about five stallions have the right stuff to be sent for training to the Spanische Hofreitschule (Spanish Riding School) in Vienna. In summer, you have the choice of a do-it-yourself tour using a sheet map of the stud, using the free multilingual audioguide (deposit €10) or taking a fully fledged tour, when the stud is open from 9.30am to 5pm in summer (tours only in winter). For information, head to the Tourismusverband Lipizzanerheimat in Köflach, 3km south of Piber. The foyer with brochures and an information PC is open from 6am to 10pm.
To get to Piber from Graz, the most convenient option is to catch the GKB morning bus No 700 at 8am from Graz’ Griesplatz, arriving in Piber at 9.15am (you have to change to connecting bus 705 at Voitsberg Hauptplatz). The last bus leaves Piber at 4.57pm. This only works weekdays. Frequent trains also go to Köflach (€9.90, one hour), from where it’s a 3.5km walk from Hauptplatz along Piberstrasse (follow the signs). A taxi from the train station to Piber is also an option.
