Ebenthal in Carinthia: Nature and Architectural History

Ebenthal in Carinthia offers a range of themes for planning a trip: natural landscapes, architecture and history, from protected moorland to castle ruins.

Nature and Outdoor Activities

The Sattnitz ridge south of Ebenthal’s town center is a local recreational area for hiking, cycling and running. Another natural attraction is the Höflein Moor near Schwarz: it has been a protected nature reserve since 1965 and has also been a Natura 2000 European protected area since 2008. The Ebenthal Gorge is a valuable biotope for rare and protected plants, including the hart’s-tongue fern. These three natural features offer different points of interest: the ridge is ideal for outdoor activities, while the moor stands out for its protected status and the gorge for its plant life.

Church History in Gurnitz

The Baroque parish church of Gurnitz was built in 1773 on a steep plateau in the Sattnitz. Parts of an earlier Gothic building have been preserved in its walls. The church thus brings together two historical periods: its Gothic structural elements and its Baroque construction. The church also has Carinthia’s oldest patronage of Saint Martin. A church’s patronage refers to its dedication to a saint; in Gurnitz, the saint is Martin.

Castles and Former Manor Houses

The present-day building of Rosenegg Castle was built by Johann Franz Greisenegg in 1592. The Gurnitz Brewery House was a former manor house belonging to the Gurnitz estate, dating from 1545. A stone-beer brewery was later established there; this use is part of the building’s history and does not mean that a brewery operates there today. Ebenthal Castle was built in 1566 as a small Renaissance residence. The following year, Archduke Charles II named it Ebenthal. The dates therefore mark different milestones in the buildings’ construction and naming history. The Brewery House is the earliest of the three dated buildings.

Castle Ruins and Early Settlement

Gurnitz Castle was first mentioned in a document in 1142; its remains are now barely discernible. The castle was a simply constructed, roughly triangular fortified residence with a large rectangular residential building and a castle courtyard. Its recorded original layout can thus be distinguished from the remains still visible today. Greifenfels had a keep and was built by Wulfin, also known as Wulfing, of Gurnitz on land belonging to Viktring. The site was abandoned after the new Ebenthal Castle was completed. Southwest of Gurnitz, the remains of an earthwork are also barely discernible. It probably dates back to the Bronze Age and points to early settlement activity in this area.

A Bathing Spot by the Shore

Kalmusbad is a bathing spot by the shore. If you include it in your travel plans, check in advance whether it is currently accessible to visitors.

Discover more destinations: Krumpendorf, Maria Saal, Radsberg, Höflein, Sankt Bartlmä, Windisch Bleiberg, Maria Rain, Wurdach

Return to the regional travel overview: Klagenfurt-Land.