Discover Wölfnitz

Churches, elevations and routes provide useful points of reference for exploring Wölfnitz. The parish church of Wölfnitz/Saualpe is located at an altitude of 1,127 metres. St. Leonhard an der Saualpe, together with the Mesnerkeusche, is at 1,224 metres, surrounded by forest on a spur of the southeastern ridge of the Saualpe. The different altitude figures refer to separate religious landmarks; for St. Leonhard, they are complemented by its precise location in the wooded uplands. Those interested in sacred sites can use these details to place each one in its particular landscape and elevation.

Churches and historic sites

The parish church of Wölfnitz/Saualpe is surrounded by a former defensive wall and was first mentioned in a document in 1237. The year and the former defensive wall offer two distinct historical clues: the year places the church site in time, while the wall draws attention to its formerly fortified surroundings.

St. Leonhard an der Saualpe is a filial church of Wölfnitz in the municipality of Griffen. Together with the Mesnerkeusche, it is located at an altitude of 1,224 metres, surrounded by forest on a spur of the southeastern ridge of the Saualpe. The St. Leonharder Kreuz stands north of the filial church at an altitude of almost 1,300 metres. The cross is a Late Gothic wayside shrine. Describing it as a filial church establishes its religious connection to Wölfnitz; the location of the cross adds a precise compass direction.

The St. Leonharder Kreuz is also associated with an earlier religious practice. In the past, a procession passed by the cross on St. James’s Sunday, around 25 July, with blessings of fields and livestock. This date refers to a historical custom and should not be taken as an indication of a current event date. The procession adds an account of the wayside shrine’s former use in religious life: the site’s history includes not only the structure itself but also the procession and its specific occasion for blessing.

Routes and terrain

Several features help visitors find their way along the Marien Pilgrimage Route. For just under three kilometres, it follows the course of the Wölfnitzbach and continues towards Wölfnitz; it also descends steeply into the Wölfnitzgraben. This describes the stream, approximate length, direction and gradient. These are different details to consider when comparing routes: the just-under-three-kilometre figure refers to the stretch along the stream, while the direction and descent describe other aspects of the route.

Another route description concerns the “Around the Saualpe” tour. From Untergreutschach, it leads to Wölfnitz after a demanding climb on asphalt. Both routes relate to Wölfnitz but differ in the features described: the Marien Pilgrimage Route is characterised by the stream and the steep descent into the Wölfnitzgraben, while the Saualpe tour features the demanding climb from Untergreutschach and the asphalt route to Wölfnitz. These details give an idea of the conditions on each route.

For the wider travel overview: Völkermarkt.