Nikolsdorf: Churches, Trails and Mountain Views

Nikolsdorf lies at the far eastern edge of the Lienz Valley floor and is considered the easternmost municipality in Tyrol. From the idyllic village center, you can see the north faces of the eastern Lienz Dolomites. If you would like to shape your stay around culture, hiking or a view from the air, you will find various options here: historic churches and mills, sections of the Walter-Mair circular hiking trail, scenic flights and a natural toboggan run.

Churches, a Mill and History

Nikolsdorf was first mentioned in a document in 1207, when the village appeared under the name “Itilsdorf.” The Catholic parish church of St. Bartholomew in Nikolsdorf is protected as a historic monument under a decree. In Nörsach stands the pilgrimage church of Saints Chrysanthus and Daria, a Late Gothic hall church with an asymmetrical net-rib vault and 15th-century frescoes. The Church of the Visitation of Mary in the hamlet of Lindsberg was built in 1855 and contains a reverse-glass painting depicting Mary’s meeting with her cousin Elizabeth. These dates refer to different points in time: 1207 marks the first documentary mention, while 1855 is the year the church in Lindsberg was built.

The Bachler Mill is one of the last two waterwheel mills still preserved in Nikolsdorf. In the March 2026 municipal newsletter, it was described as fully functional. Lengberg Castle is said to have already existed in a smaller form in the 11th century under the Eppenstein dynasty. The entire textile find associated with Lengberg Castle comprises more than 2,700 fabric fragments; the small finds are dated to the period between the 14th and 18th centuries AD. Prior registration is required to visit the inner courtyard; the grounds are accessible without this restriction.

Hiking Two Stages

Stage 2 of the Walter-Mair circular hiking trail in the Lienz Valley floor is an easy 12.6-kilometer hike that ends at Lengberg Castle. Stage 3 runs from Chrysanthen near Nikolsdorf to the valley station of the Zettersfeld cable car and crosses the municipal areas of Nikolsdorf, Dölsach, Nußdorf-Debant and Gaimberg. The stages also differ in their orientation points: Stage 2 has Lengberg Castle as its destination, along with a specified length and difficulty; Stage 3 can be identified by its two endpoints and the four municipal areas it crosses. Its destination, Lengberg Castle, also makes Stage 2 appealing to visitors who would like to combine hiking with the castle’s historical themes.

Scenic Flights and Winter Tobogganing

The Nikolsdorf glider airfield near Lienz is a starting point for scenic flights along the main Alpine ridge, the Glockner and Venediger groups, and the Lienz and Sexten Dolomites. Scenic flights by motor aircraft depart from Nikolsdorf Airport and offer aerial views of the landscape. The two types of flight also differ in the destinations mentioned: the glider flights include several mountain regions in their route, while motor aircraft flights focus on views of the landscape from above.

The Alter Rabantweg natural toboggan run in Nikolsdorf is suitable for families and features a 120-meter-long illuminated tunnel.

Discover more destinations: Dölsach, Bichl, Obertilliach, Thurn, Innergschlöß, Erlsbach, Abfaltersbach, Nußdorf-Debant.

Back to the main travel overview: Lienz.