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

Access to starting point:
A) Over the border crossing Šentilj we drive to Austria, and then we drive on the highway in the direction of Vienna / Wien / Dunaj. We leave the highway at exit Ilz, and then we drive for approximately 15 minutes to the settlement Riegersburg.
B) Over the border crossing Radgona we drive to Radgona / Radkersburg, and then we drive through Obrajna / Halbenrain, where we go right in the direction of the settlement Bad Gleichenberg and settlement Vrbna / Feldbach. On bypass road of Vrbna we go right in the direction of the settlement Riegersburg and Ilz, and then we drive for approximately 10 minutes to the settlement Riegersburg.
Parking lot 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 in the castle Riegersburg by store Nah und frisch. Entrance fee is 2 eur. The described path is closed from 31/10 to 1/3.

Path description:
The path starts in town Riegersburg, by store Nah und Frisch, where we go upwards to the entrance into castle. We pay 6 eur entrance fee (August 2018) and we go ahead.
The path ahead leads us through the entrance in the castle, Steintellertor and Cillitor. Right ahead goes footpath to the castle (on this path we can descend), and 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 towards the west, where we come to a bench, where we put on a helmet and self-belay set.
After easier beginning we will quickly come on very exposed spot (ferrata isn't for those who are vertiginous, because it is very exposed and all the time precipitous). We soon get to shorter ascent, after that follows crossing of the smooth plates.
Next part is a little easier, but the path goes almost vertically upwards. Next follows a smaller overhang, and then we get to a bench, where we will be rewarded with a great view on town below us.
Behind the bench the path brings us to the most difficult part, where few times we will have to changing sides of a steel cable (it runs straight upwards), after that follows part where those who are short may have some problems on shorter vertical ascent. Here is also a turn-off for extremely demanding D variant.
Next follows a little easier part, where we cross smooth plates, in front of us we will notice walls of the castle, which means, that we climbed already two thirds of the path.
When we come to the wall the path changes direction and from west passes on norhwest. Here we once again cross smooth rocky plates and we get to a crossing, where we again join the D variant path. We continue in the direction of shorter C variant (straight longer C variant) and we start steeply ascending. We get help from in a wall carved steps, and on the very exit from wall on almost vertical ascent we get help from few stemples.
The path ends on terrace of the inn, where we take a rest.
I recommend also visiting a castle, because it is really outstanding.
We descend on a footpath.
It is not recommended to go on this path in the rain.