Gaal: Mountain Lake, Chapels and Winter Activities

Gaal combines alpine scenery, historic buildings and activities for different seasons. Ingeringsee is a mountain lake destination with a loop trail that takes around 45 minutes; churches and chapels offer a glimpse into different periods of architectural history. In winter, skiing, snowshoeing and ski touring are also available. If you are looking for a hotel in Gaal, you can base your choice on the themes you want to shape your stay.

Ingeringsee and Getting Around

Ingeringsee lies in Gaal at an altitude of 1,200 metres and is surrounded by the Seckau Alps. Walking around the lake takes about 45 minutes. The lake is accessible by car: an asphalt road leads there at first; shortly before the lake, it becomes a gravel road that continues to the car park. Access is closed in winter. Check the current access regulations before setting out. A free hiking and leisure map is available to help you find your way around the municipality. It shows hiking and ski routes, a circular hiking trail and themed trails, as well as car parks, inns and snack stations in the municipality.

Church, Castle and Chapels

St. Peter's Church in Gaal has Romanesque origins and was probably built around 1200. Wasserberg Castle was built around 1260 by Bishop Bernhard of Seckau. The Klementi Chapel was built in 2015 by the Wasserberg forestry administration and dedicated to Saint Clement. Its altar is made from a large tree trunk; a window offers a view of Ingeringsee. Maria Loretto lies below Rosenkogel at an altitude of 1,850 metres. The alpine chapel was built in 1935 after its predecessor was destroyed by a lightning strike during the First World War. Together, these buildings span the period from presumed Romanesque origins to the construction of a chapel in 2015.

Outdoor Activities

Alpinpark Steinmühle features a high ropes course set in a rocky natural landscape. The difficulty levels range from beginner to expert. The facilities also include a rappelling course, a pamper pole, a chime and several Flying Fox zip lines. At the Gaal snowshoe taster area, you can rent snowshoes at Gasthof Wachter and follow a signposted circular route. The two experiences offer different focuses: Alpinpark centres on climbing elements and a range of difficulty levels, while the snowshoe route focuses on the circular trail.

Winter in Gaal

The Gaal ski lifts include a 2.3-kilometre ski highway. Night skiing is possible on 1.4 kilometres of groomed slopes. In winter, Maria Loretto is a destination for ski tourers and snowshoe hikers. A traditional wind ensemble gathering takes place there on the fourth Sunday in August. If you are planning to visit around that time, check the current event dates.

Discover Apple Wine

At Kühbrein-Hof, you can get a behind-the-scenes look, experience the production process and taste apple wines by prior arrangement. Kühbrein Most stands for modern, high-quality apple wine made from traditional old apple varieties. A visit to the farm combines an insight into production with a tasting; booking in advance is part of the planning.

Planning Your Stay

For a winter stay, you can instead consider the ski and snowshoe activities mentioned above. Decide on your travel dates and preferred activities before choosing a hotel for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Weißkirchen In Steiermark, Preggraben, Bretstein

Return to the overview of the wider travel region: Murtal.