Discover Paldau: Churches and Cultural History

If you are considering a stay in Paldau, you will find cultural points of interest in its church and architectural history, archaeological traces at Saazkogel, and religious traditions. A seasonal outdoor pool adds another reason to visit. When planning, the period you want to focus on and specific feast days may be just as important as whether you would like to include a day of swimming.

Churches and their different historical periods

The parish church of St. Vitus in Paldau has a Romanesque construction phase dating from 1201 to 1250. The tower and choir were built later, between 1441 and 1445. These dates refer to different construction phases and parts of the building; they help distinguish the periods in which it was built. The Saazkogel Church offers a different perspective on religious life today: it is now a popular wedding church, and many baptisms are also held there. The parish church is notable for its dated construction phases, while the Saazkogel Church is associated with contemporary celebrations through weddings and baptisms.

Early settlement at Saazkogel

Settlement traces at Saazkogel date back further. The site is home to a Hallstatt-period hilltop settlement with a burial mound field dating from the 7th century BC. There was also a Roman settlement at Saazkogel, covering around nine hectares. The evidence differs in what it tells us: the hilltop settlement and burial mound field date to the Hallstatt period, while an approximate area is also given for the Roman settlement. In this way, archaeological themes complement the architectural history of the parish church with a different view of the past. The publicly accessible Station 8 exhibition site can also be visited at Saazkogel.

Chapels, a spring, and recurring events

In Puch, the altar of the Maria Lourdes Chapel depicts a Lourdes grotto. Pöllau village chapel was consecrated on August 20, 1893; an annual rogation procession is held there on Ascension Day. The Laurenzi Festival is celebrated at Saazkogel every year on the second Sunday in August. The “Heiliges Bründl” spring has been used as a source of water for thousands of years. Together, the chapels, religious celebrations, and spring offer different points of interest for travelers interested in the local cultural history.

A seasonal reason to swim

Paldau outdoor pool has a large swimming pool for uninterrupted swimming, offering a different reason to visit than its churches and cultural history. The pool is open seasonally, and its facilities may change. If you are planning a day of swimming, check the season dates and current facilities in advance.

Travel plans depend on different dates depending on your focus: the Laurenzi Festival and the rogation procession take place annually on their respective calendar dates. If you are planning a wedding or baptism at the Saazkogel Church, arrange the details before you travel. A planned day of swimming, in turn, depends on the outdoor pool season. Check the date of the festival you wish to attend and the season dates for your travel year, so you can plan your stay around the occasion that matters to you.

Discover more destinations: Hatzendorf, Gnas, Jagerberg, Unterlamm, Feldbach, Riegersburg, Sankt Stefan Im Rosental, Bad Gleichenberg.

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