Obervellach: Gorge, Hiking Trails and Local History

Obervellach brings together nature, outdoor activities and local history. The town is located in the heart of Hohe Tauern National Park; the topics covered range from Groppenstein Gorge and hiking trails to the church, market square and Trabuschgen Castle. This gives you several starting points for planning your trip: you can decide whether to focus primarily on the landscape and trails or on places of cultural and historical interest.

Gorge and Hiking Trails in Obervellach

One specific destination for nature and hiking is Groppenstein Gorge. The gorge trail is 2.5 kilometres long and runs alongside rapids and waterfalls, crossing spectacular walkways and bridges. The waterfalls have a drop of up to 30 metres. The water and built crossings shape the character of the trail. The entrance is in Raufen, on the B106; parking is available there. If the gorge is part of your plans, you now have both the described entrance and the parking options in mind.

The Groppenstein Gorge–Rabisch Gorge hike is listed as taking 1.5 to 2.5 hours; parts of the route are steep. The length of the gorge trail and the time given for this hike are different points of reference. Stages 7, 8 and 9 of the Alpe-Adria Trail also pass through the municipalities of Obervellach and Reißeck. This connects the town with several hiking routes, from the specific gorge trail to stages of the long-distance trail.

Outdoor Activities and Nature

The Motorikpark® Mölltal offers another way to plan some physical activity. It has around 30 stations where you can train your coordination, motor skills and mind all year round; admission is free. The stations focus on training, while the hiking information specifies routes, gradients or duration. This lets you distinguish between the activities described by their character: a trail route, a hike with a stated duration or training at the stations.

Market Square, Church and Castle History

The historic market square lies in the centre of Obervellach, surrounded by buildings steeped in history. The Glockner Cycle Route R8 passes directly through the historic main square, which dates from the heyday of gold mining. Alongside the hiking trails, this makes a historically significant place a focal point of the townscape.

The parish church of St Martin houses a triptych by Jan van Scorel, incorporated into a Baroque altar. The connection between the artwork and the altar offers a specific point of interest in art history. Trabuschgen Castle adds another historical layer to the story of the town: the oldest part was built by the Counts of Khuenburg in the 15th century, during the heyday of metal mining. At the end of the 16th century, Adam Stampfer bought the castle and converted it into a representative Baroque family residence with a magnificent facade. This makes it possible to distinguish the earlier construction phase from the later Baroque renovation.

Local Food Culture and the Schroth Cure

The Slow Food Village Obervellach champions local food and a healthy, wholesome food culture. The so-called Schroth cure is also associated with the town: people have been able to take this cure in Obervellach for almost 200 years. It includes a healthy diet, massages and steam compresses. These topics complement the nature and cultural highlights with a distinct focus on food culture and health cures.

Discover destinations: Sachsenburg, Bad Kleinkirchheim, Egg, Tschierweg, Innerkrems, Görtschach, Malta, Pattendorf

For the broader travel overview: Spittal An Der Drau.