Sirnitz-Sonnseite: Farmsteads, granaries and trails

The Artzbauer farmstead is located in Sirnitz on the sunny side at an elevation of 1,095 m. It is one of the few farmsteads in the municipality of Albeck that have been preserved in their original state. Its cellar section is built of natural stone masonry, with a multi-storey timber living area above.

Traditional rural architecture

The Surtmann granary dates back to 1737. Built for storing grain, it has a masonry ground floor and a two-storey block-built upper section. Its carved wooden balcony features a heart-and-chalice pattern. The granary thus combines a clearly articulated structure with an ornamental detail.

The Wertzer granary is also a two-storey grain store built using block construction. It stands on a slope on a natural stone foundation. The two granaries can be distinguished by their bases: the Surtmann granary is described as having a masonry ground floor, while the Wertzer granary has a natural stone foundation. There are two grain granaries at the Peyer farmstead. The upper one was moved to its present location from the former Lindner farmstead before its buildings were demolished during a land consolidation around 1975.

Places of remembrance and history

The Peyer cross is a large shrine cross with a gabled roof, wavy gable boards, a back panel and wooden strips along the sides. It includes a simply crafted crucifix. The cross was erected in memory of the farm owner, who died in an accident while logging on the Hochrindl. According to the Mödritscher family, the present Peyer cross dates back to the 1920s.

The Wertzerhube is mentioned as early as the Gurk land register of 1326 and the fief register of 1404/1407. It held the right to serve drinks; there must have been an inn there in the Middle Ages. The parish church also has an early documented history: it was first mentioned in 1179 and listed as a subsidiary church of the mother parish of Altenmarkt. It includes a Baroque charnel house dating from 1513. The right to serve drinks permitted beverages to be served.

Trails and getting around

The municipality of Albeck lies within the Carinthian Nockberge nature and landscape conservation area. Its network includes more than 200 km of signposted hiking trails leading to viewpoints, natural monuments, churches and ruins. One specific route starts in Sirnitz: the Kneipp hiking trail runs for around 1.5 km into the Enge Gurk to a small waterfall. The figure of more than 200 km refers to the municipality’s trail network, while around 1.5 km refers to this particular trail.

Albeck can be reached via the Gurk Valley on the B 94 and B 93, or from Feldkirchen on the B 93. This gives visitors planning a trip both an overview of the municipality’s road connections and information about hiking trails at different scales.

Discover more destinations: Albeck Obere Schattseite, Sirnitz.

View the broader travel overview: Albeck.