Ötz: Apricot Tasting and Graphite Mining History

Several themes come together in Ötz for a stay: a tasting featuring apricots and whisky, the history of graphite mining, and the Celtic Stone as an old route marker. These themes appeal to different interests: the tasting is a specific activity, while the mining history and Celtic Stone offer historical perspectives. If you are looking for a hotel in Ötz, you can consider whether you would rather connect your stay with the tasting experience or with the area's historical associations.

Ötz and its local landmarks

The Marillenhof – Destillerie Kausl is located on the old Roman road in Ötz, in the Wachau World Heritage region. To get your bearings, you can distinguish between the different levels: Ötz is the specific destination, the Wachau is the broader regional setting, and the old Roman road indicates the location of the Marillenhof.

Apricot and whisky tasting

The Marillenhof – Destillerie Kausl offers a tasting experience lasting about 1.5 hours year-round by telephone appointment. It focuses on the processing of apricots and the production of whisky. Bringing these themes together gives the tasting a specific focus. The approximate duration is a helpful guide for planning your day; arrange your visit by telephone.

Graphite mining and its history

The former graphite mine in the Mühldorf area also operated in Ötz and was one of the oldest mining operations of its kind in Austria. It operated from 1832 to 1968. These dates provide a clear timeframe for the historical topic, while its status as one of the oldest operations of its kind places Ötz's mining history in a broader context.

Graphite extracted in the Mühldorf area, including Ötz, was used to make tableware, crucibles and stove blacking; later, it was also used in the iron industry. A crucible is a vessel in which materials are melted. These examples make the uses of the raw material tangible: in addition to the products mentioned, its later use in the iron industry is also part of the history of graphite mining.

The Celtic Stone as a route marker

The Celtic Stone stands by the road in Ötz and is an old route marker dating from the time of the Celts. Unlike the history of graphite, which is framed by the mine's operating dates and the uses of the raw material, the focus here is on its function as a route marker. In this way, the Celtic Stone complements the industrial history with a different historical perspective: its connection to a route in the time of the Celts.

Different historical timeframes

For your planning, you can distinguish between these different timeframes. The tasting is an experience available year-round by telephone appointment, with an approximate duration; graphite mining is bounded by the years 1832 to 1968. The Celtic Stone represents a historical period: it is a route marker dating from the time of the Celts. This lets you compare a specific activity that can be planned in advance with two historical perspectives.

Discover more destinations

Rastenfeld, Sankt Michael, Aggsbach Markt, Mautern An Der Donau, Mitterarnsdorf, Dürnstein, Wösendorf In Der Wachau, Mühldorf

To the main travel overview: Krems-Land.