Mellweg: Parish Church and Excursions at Lake Pressegger

Mellweg combines a specific cultural attraction with several opportunities in the surrounding area. When planning your trip, you can first decide whether to focus on the Parish Church of St. Gertraud or include routes and activities around Lake Pressegger. The church is in Mellweg; the Slow Trail, the adventure park and the Gailtal Cycle Path are nearby. You can therefore treat visiting the town and going on excursions as different focuses for your stay.

Parish Church of St. Gertraud: History and Art

The Parish Church of St. Gertraud is a Gothic building and has been an independent parish since 1788. It was first mentioned in a document in 1399. The dates mark different historical points of reference: 1399 is the first documentary mention, while 1788 marks the start of its independence as a parish. The church is protected as a historic monument under an ordinance and is listed in the 2026 Carinthian Monument Register.

A special detail can be found in the upper section of the high altar: a carved half-length relief of the Madonna and Child, cheek to cheek. The work was created around 1515/20. The subject and approximate date of creation add a specific artistic detail to the history of the church building. A Holy Sepulchre dating from 1962 is also in the parish church. As part of the Easter preparations in 2026, it was brought from the rectory and set up in the church.

Routes and activities in the surrounding area

The 6 km-long Slow Trail starts at Hermagor lido and follows a circular route around Lake Pressegger. Its circular layout and length give you a concrete framework for planning your day. Check current trail conditions before setting out if you are planning this route.

At the Pressegger See adventure park, a giant water slide leads straight into the lake. Operations may vary seasonally. If you want to include this excursion during your trip, check in advance whether it is scheduled to be open then.

The Gailtal Cycle Path R3a runs from Möderndorf through Hermagor and past Lake Pressegger to Görtschach. The sequence of several places sets this route apart from the Slow Trail’s single circuit of the lake. Travellers can take the train between Görtschach and Hermagor in connection with the R3a. Check the timetable separately if you are considering the train option in your plans.

The 8th stage of the Marienpilgerweg (Marian Pilgrimage Trail) also takes hikers towards Mellweg: they cross the Gail River to the north and can make a detour into the town. This offers another way to include Mellweg in a route plan, alongside the lake circuit and cycle route.

Mellweg for planning your trip

If you are looking for a hotel in Mellweg, the focus of your trip can help structure your search: a cultural stay might centre on the parish church in town, while a day of excursions could include the lakeside circuit, cycle route or pilgrimage trail nearby. Each option raises different planning questions: for the Slow Trail, consider the starting point and its six-kilometre length; for the R3a train section, check the timetable; and for the giant water slide, check its seasonal operating schedule. When choosing a hotel, check its actual location to make sure it suits your plans.

Discover more destinations: Forst, Rattendorf, Liesing, Liesch, Görtschach, Reisach, Paßriach, Sankt Stefan An Der Gail

Go to the overarching travel overview: Hermagor.