Sankt Jakob in the Rosental Valley: Churches, Drau Cycle Path and Winter Trails

Sankt Jakob in the Rosental Valley is nestled between the Karawanken mountain range and the Drau reservoir; forests are also part of the landscape. To help you decide whether a stay suits your interests, the town offers a range of themes: cycling along the Drau, hiking and winter trails, and the history of churches and pilgrimages.

Cycle Path, Hiking Trails and Drau Reservoir

The 364-kilometre-long Drau Cycle Path runs through St. Jakob im Rosental and idyllic floodplain landscapes. The Drau Cycle Path R1 also passes through the town; it is designated as a five-star quality cycle route. This information gives cycling enthusiasts an idea of both the length of the Drau Cycle Path and the R1’s quality rating.

The Drau reservoir near St. Jakob im Rosental is about twelve kilometres long. You can surf or go out on the lake in rowing boats. So, alongside cycling, there are also activities on the water to consider. The municipality also has many well-marked hiking trails and winter hiking trails. Forests are part of its landscape and form another element of the natural scenery along the trails.

Winter Activities

For winter outings, there is a distinction between walks and sporting activities: the winter hiking trails complement the hiking trails, while the St. Jakob im Rosental performance centre focuses on biathlon. Biathlon is one of its main activities; the centre also has a ski lift and a cross-country ski trail. Small children can ski on the Fini-Planai, which has a small surface lift. These specific options give you several ways to combine a stay with winter hiking, cross-country skiing or downhill skiing.

Churches, Pilgrimage and Local Traditions

The pilgrimage church of Maria Elend is a broad, late-Gothic hall church dating from the second half of the 15th century and contains a Gothic winged altarpiece. Pilgrimage days are held every year, especially on 15 August, the Feast of the Assumption. Maria Elend thus combines a historic church with a recurring pilgrimage date.

An hour’s walk south of the village of Maria Elend, two small chapels stand on a steep mountainside beneath the rock face at the site of the rockslide. The older, smaller chapel dates from 1731, and the larger one from 1751. Below the mountain chapels is the healing spring, also known as the Christ Spring; it was built over a spring believed to have healing properties. The church, chapels and spring are distinct historical and religious landmarks within the municipality.

The parish church of St. Jakob im Rosental also tells a different architectural story: it was rebuilt after the 1972 fire, while the late-Gothic choir was preserved. The church features murals by Valentin Oman from 1991. In contrast, the late-Gothic hall church is the focal point at Maria Elend; in St. Jakob, the rebuilding and the preserved choir shape the history of the church building.

You can experience local traditions at numerous cultural events and at the weekly market. The municipality’s cultural offerings thus range from churches and pilgrimages to events and market life.

Discover more destinations: Sankt Andrä, Drobollach am Faaker See, Winklern, Ragain, Feld am See, Treffen am Ossiacher See, Goritschach, Pölling

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