Discover Sirnitz: Mill, Church and Nature

Sirnitz brings together cultural history, milling and outdoor activities. The Parish Church of St. Nicholas and the Sirnitz Mill offer different historical points of interest; the Kneipp hiking trail leads from Sirnitz into the Enge Gurk. There is also football golf, the Sirnitz natural swimming pond and a herb tour in Sirnitz-Albeck. If you are looking for a hotel, your choice of destination may also depend on whether you would rather explore architectural history, follow a specific route or take part in other activities.

Church, Mill and Architectural History

The Parish Church of St. Nicholas has a Baroque charnel house dating from 1513. The church itself was first mentioned in 1179 or 1181. A charnel house is an ossuary; the two dates therefore refer to different things: the church’s first mention and the date the charnel house was built. When placing the history in context, it is important to note that 1179 or 1181 are not construction dates for the charnel house: the early reference concerns the church, while 1513 refers to the charnel house.

Since 1997, the Sirnitz Mill has been a working watermill and it is still in operation today. It traditionally and gently mills rye, wheat and spelt. For anyone interested in food production, it connects a specific activity with the historic townscape: the focus is both on the continued use of the mill and on three named types of grain. Unlike the church, the emphasis here is not on dates of mention and construction.

Today’s Albeck Castle was built in 1680 using stones from the demolished castle. The date refers to the present castle, not the earlier one; its stones were reused in the new building. This distinguishes the predecessor from today’s castle, while the history of the building materials connects the two.

Trails and Nature in Sirnitz

The Kneipp hiking trail runs from Sirnitz for around 1.5 kilometres into the Enge Gurk, to a small waterfall. The route’s starting point, approximate length and destination are clearly identified. For trip planning, the trail offers a specific connection with nature and a named endpoint. If you like to include a route with a set destination, the waterfall is the clear point of reference for this trail.

The Sirnitz-Hochrindl region lies within the Nockberge nature and landscape conservation area. The Sirnitz natural swimming pond is located in Sirnitz-Frankenberg, at the entrance to Sirnitz. The first reference concerns the region, while the second identifies a specific spot at the entrance to the village; the Kneipp hiking trail adds another option: a route with a named destination. These are three distinct ways to experience nature when planning a trip: a protected landscape, a pond and a trail.

More Activities

Since summer 2022, a football golf course with 14 holes has been located right next to the football pitch in Sirnitz. If you are planning to play football golf, please check the operating conditions before your trip. Unlike the Kneipp hiking trail, this is a course-based activity; the trail, by contrast, leads to a small waterfall. The two options differ in both their format and their specific destination.

In Sirnitz-Albeck, guests can join local producers on a herb tour through the countryside. Tour arrangements may change, so we recommend checking the current conditions before your trip. The focus differs from football golf and the hiking route: the tour centres on herbs and local producers. When planning your trip, you can choose between a nature tour with producers, a course and a trail leading to a waterfall.

Discover more destinations: Albeck Obere Schattseite, Sirnitz-Sonnseite.

Go to the broader travel overview: Albeck.