Wasserhofen: Magdalene Church, History and Routes
Accommodation in Wasserhofen
Wasserhofen is located in the municipality of Sankt Kanzian am Klopeiner See. For those interested in culture, the Catholic Magdalene Church is a clear point of reference: it is dedicated to Mary Magdalene and is a branch church of KĂĽhnsdorf. The church is protected as a historic monument by decree. Its architectural history and furnishings offer various cultural and historical perspectives on the village.
Magdalene Church: Architectural History and Art
The church was probably built shortly before 1580 as a Protestant place of worship for nearby Wasserhofen Castle; the Church of Mary Magdalene was first mentioned in a document in 1580. Its Protestant purpose dates back to the time of its construction; today, the church is Catholic and a branch church of KĂĽhnsdorf.
The circular building has a painted, stencilled wooden ceiling that was restored in 1971. The 18th-century altar features an image of Saint Mary Magdalene. The wall paintings entitled “Ecce homo” were created by contemporary artist Valentin Oman. This brings the historic altarpiece together with wall paintings by a contemporary artist. “Circular building” describes the shape of the structure; the ceiling draws attention to a specific design feature. “Stencilled” refers to a decorative technique in which a stencil is used. The dates relate to different aspects: the altar dates from the 18th century, while 1971 refers to the restoration of the wooden ceiling. The wall paintings complement these furnishings with a work by a contemporary artist. Visitors placing the church in an art-historical context can thus distinguish between the date of an item of furnishing, a later restoration and contemporary art.
Pilgrimage and Cycling Routes
On the Edling–Gallizien section of the Carinthian Way of St. James, Stage 3, the route passes directly by the branch church of St. Mary Magdalene in Wasserhofen. The stage name and church reference provide two specific points of orientation for planning a trip: Edling–Gallizien identifies the route section, while Wasserhofen indicates the church’s location along this stage.
In the 2024 tour program, the RadKultTour passed by Wasserhofen Castle. The 6-Lakes Tour follows a cycle path through Wasserhofen to Unterburg am Klopeiner See. The two cycling routes therefore differ in the places they refer to: the RadKultTour is associated with the castle, while the 6-Lakes Tour runs through Wasserhofen towards Unterburg. When comparing the routes, consider their different ways of travelling and points of reference: the pilgrimage stage has a direct connection to the church, while the cycling routes are associated with the castle or the village.
Getting There and Finding a Hotel
The Wasserhofen bus stop is identified as SĂśD070 on a SĂĽdmobil map dated July 2022. Check the current timetable before travelling by bus. When searching for the stop, you can use the place name Wasserhofen and check it against the identifier SĂśD070.
Use this focus to help you decide how to explore Wasserhofen, then compare hotel offers for your travel dates.
Discover more destinations: Kleindiex, Globasnitz, Rammersdorf, Seelach, Wölfnitz, Ruden, Gösselsdorf, Weißeneggerberg
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