Birnbaum: Find hiking routes and a hotel
Accommodation in Birnbaum
Birnbaum is a starting point for numerous hikes. The routes described range from a circular trail between Birnbaum, Wodmaier and Nostra to a moderately difficult mountain hike to GrifitzbĂĽhel. There is also a snowshoe hike and a cycling and e-bike tour through the named places in the surrounding area. When planning your stay, you can first choose based on your preferred activities and their specific routes.
Landscape and views
From Birnbaum, views extend to the villages of Nostra and Wodmaier opposite, into the Wolayertal valley and to the Plenge. The Plenge is also part of the panoramic view from a lookout point on the mountain hike to GrifitzbĂĽhel. Views are therefore a feature both of the village itself and of one of the mountain hikes described, although the specific views belong to different settings.
Hikes between Birnbaum and Kornat
The Birnbaum–Wodmaier–Nostra–Birnbaum circular trail begins and ends in Birnbaum. It passes through Wodmaier and Nostra; near Sonnhof, it crosses a stream by the little church of St. Antoniskirchlein. The place names make the route easy to follow, while its return to Birnbaum sets it apart from the hikes with a different destination. Check current route and weather conditions before setting out.
The hike to GrifitzbĂĽhel is rated moderately difficult. It is 14.8 kilometres long and takes about 6.5 hours. From Birnbaum, it leads to Kornat and along the road to the last farm, Stramitzer. This makes it a clearly defined option for a longer day of hiking. The lookout point with views of the Plenge is also part of this hike. The stated duration is a useful guide for planning your day; check current route and weather conditions before setting out.
Snowshoeing and cycling
The Nostra–Wodmaier snowshoe hike starts in Birnbaum and leads via Nostra and the Wolayertal valley to the Hubertus Chapel. The return route goes via Wodmaier and the Gail River back to Birnbaum. Check conditions and avalanche warnings before setting out on this winter route.
Another snowshoe hike leads to GrifitzbĂĽhel. It starts at the highest farms in Kornat, which can be reached from Birnbaum, and crosses lightly wooded alpine pastureland to the summit at 1,861 metres. There is a cross there. While the route via Nostra and Wodmaier has the Hubertus Chapel as its named destination, this hike leads to the summit. The two winter routes described therefore differ in their respective destinations.
There is also a route described for cycling or e-biking: the Birnbaum–Podlanig–Wodmaier tour leads from Birnbaum via Podlanig to the outlying settlement of Wodmaier. These named stops provide an option for a cycling tour alongside the hiking and winter routes.
Culture and regional context
In Kornat, St. John’s Church stands on the slope above Birnbaum at an altitude of 1,032 metres. It was first mentioned in historical records in 1376. Another historical connection to Birnbaum leads into the Wolayertal valley: in August 1908, Archduke Franz Ferdinand visited the area and went chamois hunting there from the settlement. The church and hunting histories point to different historical aspects of the surrounding area.
Birnbaum is in the Lesachtal, which is a member of the “Austrian Mountaineering Villages” initiative. The initiative promotes nature-based and sustainable tourism. A workshop on Lesachtaler bread also offers regional context: visitors can knead the dough by hand according to traditional recipes. Alongside the local hiking and cycling routes, themes from the wider Lesachtal also help inform travel plans.
Discover more destinations: Liesing, Waidegg, Sonnenalpe Nassfeld, Sittmoos, WeiĂźbriach, Sankt Lorenzen Im Lesachtal, Jenig, Podlanig Im Lesachtal.
Return to the main travel overview: Hermagor.
