Gnesau: Hiking, Arboretum and Wood Culture

Gnesau lies in the Upper Gurk Valley, in the district of Feldkirchen, surrounded by the natural landscapes of the Gurktal Alps and the Nockberge Biosphere Reserve. Nature and culture go hand in hand here with opportunities for hiking, cycling and – when there is sufficient snow – cross-country skiing. An arboretum, the Gnesau Wood Culture Trail, named hiking routes and a section of the Hemma Pilgrimage Trail give your trip a variety of focuses. When planning, you can already consider which themes you would like to shape your stay.

Landscape, Trees and Wood Culture

Around 59 percent of the municipality’s approximately 7,900 hectares are forested. The forest therefore shapes Gnesau’s landscape. The arboretum turns the focus to individual trees: this accessible tree garden features many familiar and rare native tree species that you can view or study. Rare ginkgo and sequoia trees also grow in the Carinthian Garden of Trees in Gnesau. The tree collection thus ranges from native species to these distinctive trees.

The arboretum is opposite the Gnesau Cultural Centre and is both the starting point and endpoint of the Gnesau Wood Culture Trail. Along the trail are centuries-old farmhouses, blackened by the sun. The same route thus brings together a tree garden and the history of rural architecture. Gnesau is also one of the Carinthian municipalities along the Wood Road, giving its local wood culture a regional context.

Another point of cultural and historical interest is the Roman Catholic parish church of Gnesau. It is dedicated to Saint Leonard and was formerly a fortified church. Its dedication and former defensive function offer a different perspective on local history from the Wood Culture Trail. If you are interested in religious architecture or the historical context of a place, you can include the church as a separate theme in your travel plans.

Hiking, Cycling and Cross-Country Skiing

Two hiking trails can be distinguished by their names and numbers: Gnesau–Dürrer Baum–Buchskopf is route 164, and Gnesau–Sonnleiten–Knittel is route 158. The names help you identify a specific route when planning your hike. Since 2007, a section of the Hemma Pilgrimage Trail has also run through the municipality of Gnesau. This means you can choose from the two named hiking trails as well as a section of a pilgrimage trail as a separate focus.

A well-developed network of mountain biking and cycling routes complements the hiking options. For your stay, you can choose between named hiking trails and a network of cycling routes. In winter, the Gnesau cross-country ski trail is available when there is sufficient snow. If you would like to go cross-country skiing, check the snow conditions beforehand and take this requirement into account when planning.

Find a Hotel to Suit Your Travel Plans

When considering a specific hotel offer, check whether its stated location and amenities suit your plans. This will help you make your choice based on what you would like to do during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Wiedweg, Hochrindl-Kegel, Agsdorf, Hochrindl-Alpl, Poitschach, Sankt Urban, Ossiach, Feldkirchen in Kärnten

For the overview of the wider area: Feldkirchen.