Grödig: Alm Canal and Untersberg Cable Car

If you are considering Grödig as a travel destination, you can choose between several highlights: a ride on the Untersberg Cable Car, trails from Fürstenbrunn, and cultural history and local traditions. Would you mainly like to hike, take the cable car, or plan your travel dates around a recurring tradition?

Untersberg Cable Car and getting there

The Untersberg Cable Car starts in St. Leonhard near Grödig and goes up to the Geiereck. The ride takes 8½ minutes and offers views of the city of Salzburg, the Berchtesgaden region and the Rosittental. The journey time gives you a concrete indication of how long this part of the trip takes. Bus route 25 connects Salzburg Central Station with the Untersberg Cable Car via the city centre, Hellbrunn, Anif, Grödig and St. Leonhard. Check the timetable before your trip, as route details may change.

Hiking trails and winter route

From Fürstenbrunn, a district of Grödig, trail 461 leads via the Schweigmühlalm and the Großer Eiskeller to the Mittagsscharte, or directly to the Salzburger Hochthron. The two destination options differ in that one passes the named intermediate points, while the other leads directly to the Hochthron. The 160 km-long Alpine long-distance trail runs partly through the municipality of Grödig. Its total length refers to the long-distance trail, not to the section within the municipality. In winter, a 7.5 km ski route leads to Fürstenbrunn. Its starting point is a 15-minute walk from the Untersberg Cable Car’s upper station. Whether the route is usable depends on snow conditions. The 15-minute walk refers to the path to the starting point, while 7.5 km is the length of the route itself.

Waterways and local history

The Alm Canal has flowed through Grödig since the 13th century. It was built in the Middle Ages to supply water to the city of Salzburg and was used for centuries as a lifeline for many businesses, especially mills. In Fürstenbrunn, at the foot of the Untersberg, a spring-fed stream rises at an elevation of around 590 m; it formed one of the three sources of the Glanbach. While the canal tells the story of a medieval waterway, the spring represents one source of the Glanbach.

Church and recurring traditions

The pilgrimage church of St. Leonhard is an architecturally and culturally significant building. At its core, its nave is Romanesque, while the triumphal arch and choir were built in the Gothic period. Thus, the same building combines a Romanesque core with Gothic elements. The Leonhardiritt takes place every year at the pilgrimage church of St. Leonhard in Grödig, at the foot of the Untersberg. The traditional St. Leonharder Kirtag also takes place every year around the first weekend in September. The Leonhardiritt is tied to the church’s location; the first weekend in September provides a timeframe for the Kirtag. As exact dates may change, check the dates for the relevant year when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Bergheim, Michaelbeuern, Plainfeld, Muntigl, Eugendorf, Plain, Gschwand, Strobl.

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