Aigen Im Ennstal: Lake, Kulm and Culture

If you are considering Aigen Im Ennstal as a travel destination, its landscapes, culture and activities offer a range of things to consider as you plan your trip. Putterersee and Kulm represent different kinds of scenery; there are also hikes, cycling opportunities and several listed heritage sites. Information about buses and trains can also help you plan your journey.

The landscapes of Putterersee and Kulm

Putterersee covers 13 ha and is 8 m deep. It is considered the warmest alpine moor lake in Styria. Kulm, meanwhile, is an inselberg in Aigen Im Ennstal. Its summit is at 918 m above sea level and rises around 270 m above the valley floor of the Styrian Enns Valley. The two elevation figures refer to different points of comparison: one describes the summit in relation to the valley floor, while the other gives its elevation above sea level.

A hike to the summit of Kulm offers 360-degree views across the entire Enns Valley, as far as the Dachstein and Gesäuse. There is a small summit cross and a rest area at the top. Another hike leads to Hohe Trett above Aigen; from there, the view extends to Grimming, Ausseerland, Dachstein and Gesäuse. If you are comparing hiking destinations by their views, these offer two different perspectives: Kulm provides expansive views across the Enns Valley, while Hohe Trett looks out over the four named landscapes.

Cycling and other activities

The Enns Cycle Path offers a cycling option in Aigen Im Ennstal. The Eichschacherl Trail is located next to the Putterersee campsite. It provides children with a suitable introduction to mountain biking. Check the trail's local operating conditions before setting out. The two offerings differ in their stated focus: the Enns Cycle Path is a cycling option, while the Eichschacherl Trail is specifically described as an introduction to mountain biking for children.

Golf rounds can also be booked at Golf & Country Club Schloss Pichlarn. As prices and seasonal operating details may change, check the latest information in advance if you are planning to play golf.

Churches, heritage sites and local history

Florianikirche combines contemporary architecture with an exceptional synthesis of rock, glass and wood. It was consecrated on 3 May 1992. The Aigner Dirndl offers another way to explore local culture: the Aigen women's movement created it in 2006. Its pattern stylizes the butter striezel and the little tree from the municipal coat of arms.

In Aigen Im Ennstal, Puttererschlössl with its castle chapel, as well as the Catholic branch church of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist at Hohenberg, are listed heritage sites. The Hallstatt-period settlement and burial mounds at Kulm near Aigen are also protected heritage sites. These named places bring together architectural and archaeological remains without needing to be grouped into a single attraction.

The Stalingrad Cross memorial chapel was built in memory of those who fell in the battles of Stalingrad. The stated period of the battles runs from 22 November 1942 to 2 February 1943; the chapel was consecrated on 8 September 1973. Alongside churches and archaeological sites, visitors can therefore also explore a memorial with a clearly stated historical connection.

Getting there by bus and train

Bus routes 940 and 941 serve the “Putterersee” stop, near the starting point of the Wünschelrutenweg. Check the current timetable before setting out. The nearest railway station is Stainach-Irdning in Stainach, 6 kilometres from Aigen. It is also advisable to check current train connections before your trip. These two details give you different reference points for planning: a bus stop near the specified trail starting point and the nearest railway station, with its stated distance from the town.

When choosing your stay in Aigen Im Ennstal, you can weigh the landscapes, the cultural sites mentioned and your planned activities against one another. For hiking, the viewpoints at Kulm and Hohe Trett differ; for cycling, the Enns Cycle Path and the child-friendly introduction offered by the Eichschacherl Trail are two options with different focuses.

Discover more destinations: Sankt Gallen, Gstatterboden, Bad Mitterndorf, Zlem, Aich-Assach, Großsölk, Admont, Haus

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