Schlaiten: Isel, Hiking Trails and Ecclesiastical Heritage

You can explore Schlaiten for your trip planning through three specific themes: the location of the settlement, trails with named destinations, and ecclesiastical heritage. Almost the entire settlement lies on a terrace southwest of the Isel, about 150 metres above the valley floor of the Isel Valley. Other highlights include the panoramic adventure trail to Daberer Waterfall and historic altars in the parish church and chapel. This makes it possible to understand the town through both its landscape and hiking opportunities, as well as its architecture.

Hiking Trails and Landscape

The Schlaiten panoramic adventure trail leads from Schlaiten village square to Daberer Waterfall and past the vlg. Gridling farmstead, considered an old miners’ house dating from the 16th century. The route also leads to the “Zum guten Hirten” forest chapel. This trail therefore brings together a waterfall, a historically significant farmstead and a chapel. If you like to include cultural and historical points of interest in your hikes, the named stops give the trail a distinctive focus.

The Iseltrail has a different geographical emphasis. Between Schlaiten and St. Johann im Walde, it runs close to the Isel, mostly along the river’s embankment. By comparison, the panoramic adventure trail can be described in terms of its starting point at the village square and its named destinations. When planning your hikes, you can decide whether you would prefer to focus on specific stops or on the river.

At 2,805 metres, Bockstein is the highest point in the municipality of Schlaiten and is considered a popular mountain viewpoint. It is a distinct landmark if you want to understand Schlaiten in terms of a prominent high point and its views.

Churches and History

After it was enlarged, Schlaiten Parish Church was dedicated to St. Paul in 1658. Schlaiten subsequently became a popular pilgrimage destination, especially for people from Upper Carinthia. The Baroque high altar dates from 1735 and was made by Johann Paterer. The dedication and the altar are therefore two distinct historical points of reference for the church.

On the west side of the parish church, at the end of the cemetery, is the “Nothelfergang” arcade, with 15 niches and statues of St. Paul and the 14 Holy Helpers. St. Paul thus appears both in the church’s dedication and among the figures in the arcade, linking the dedication with a specific architectural feature.

The Chapel of St. Chrysanth and Daria houses a Neo-Romanesque high altar dating from 1888. By comparison, the parish church’s high altar is Baroque and dates from 1735. The two altars can be compared in terms of their different stylistic descriptions and dates—a specific point of interest if you are interested in ecclesiastical architecture.

Village Square and the Year’s Events

The village square is both the starting point for the panoramic adventure trail and a venue for festivals, celebrations and events held throughout the year. These include the Schlipfkrapfen festival. If you want to plan a trip around a festival, check the specific event dates in advance.

When looking for a hotel in Schlaiten, these highlights can help you choose a destination: you can base your trip planning mainly on the hiking trails, the landscape or the town’s ecclesiastical history.

Discover more destinations: Nikolsdorf, Sankt Jakob In Defereggen, Iselsberg-Stronach, Abfaltersbach, Erlsbach, Sillian, Tristach, Bruggen

Go to the main travel overview: Lienz.