Kremsbrücke: Churches, Iron and the Nockalm Road

If you are looking for a hotel in Kremsbrücke, you can plan your stay around three specific themes: churches, historic ironworking and the Nockalm Road, which begins here. This can help you decide whether local history, local traditions, or a road and landscape route should take priority on your trip. Kremsbrücke is part of the municipality of Krems in Carinthia, which lies entirely within the Nockberge Biosphere Reserve. This landscape provides an additional context for planning your trip.

Churches and the history of ironworking

St. Nikolai branch church, the oldest church in the municipality, stands on a hill north of Kremsbrücke. Its exceptionally thick tower wall suggests that the church was built as a fortified church. The defensive function is therefore an interpretation; its status as the oldest church is independent of that. The Church of Maria Trost in Kremsbrücke tells a different story of construction: it is a simple building dating from the first half of the 17th century. Together, the churches offer different historical perspectives, from a possible defensive function to the period in which they were built.

Ironworking is also part of the region’s history. The area around Kremsbrücke and Eisentratten is shaped by it; blast furnaces were built there in 1541 and 1566, respectively. They are considered the oldest in Austria and possibly in the entire German-speaking region. The blast furnace in Kremsbrücke, together with the one in Eisentratten, has been described as the first charcoal blast furnace in Central Europe. This industrial history adds another facet to the area’s past alongside its churches.

Local traditions

For the harvest festival, the Kremsbrücke village community makes the harvest crown and small harvest bouquets every year. Another regular event in local tradition is Prangtag, celebrated on Corpus Christi Sunday. For the occasion, the homeowners Kassmanhuber, Mathehans and Kohlmaier prepare three altars; the fourth altar is in the church. The two occasions illustrate different forms of community tradition: preparing harvest offerings and arranging the altars for Prangtag.

The Nockalm Road and hiking destinations

The Nockalm Road begins in Kremsbrücke. It is about 34 kilometres long and has 52 hairpin bends. It operates seasonally; check the current conditions before setting out. There are free exhibitions along the road, and what is on offer may change. Check in advance what will be available during your visit. Well-signposted hiking trails run through the biosphere reserve. When planning your trip, you can choose between a drive, the exhibitions along the Nockalm Road, and hikes through the biosphere reserve.

Other hiking and leisure activities are associated with Innerkrems. The themed “Water and Miners’ Trail” takes children and parents to six mine tunnels that recall the region’s former iron ore mining. A half-day hike from Innerkrems also leads into part of the biosphere park. This is a separate option, distinguished from the hiking trails along the Nockalm Road by its stated duration.

The Innerkrems Outdoor Park is in the Katschberg–Lieser–Maltatal region near Kremsbrücke. It has two specially designed mountain biking courses with a conveyor lift. Bikes and protective gear can be rented directly on site. As rental availability may change, it is best to check before your visit. When choosing your stay, it helps to distinguish between the locations: the Nockalm Road begins in Kremsbrücke, while the Miners’ Trail and the outdoor park are associated with Innerkrems.

Discover more destinations: Stall, Oberkolbnitz, Rennweg Am Katschberg, Irschen, Sappl, Reißeck, Görtschach, Döllach

For the broader travel overview: Spittal An Der Drau.