Großkirchheim lies in the heart of Hohe Tauern National Park; large parts of the Zirknitztal valley are protected. Nature attractions and traces of precious-metal mining shape the area, as do historic churches and buildings. So when planning a stay, you can choose different focuses: trails and a waterfall, the history of mining, or the architecture of individual religious buildings.
Nature, Waterfall and Cycle Route
The “Listen to the Inside” nature trail takes families to a platform near Gartl Waterfall. The waterfall is therefore a clearly identified landmark along the route. The Glocknerradweg R8 offers a different perspective: it follows a route close to nature, has no significant climbs and is considered suitable for families. These offer two different options for planning your visit—a nature trail ending near the waterfall and a cycle route characterised by its gentle gradients.
Großkirchheim’s natural swimming pool has a 1,200 m² bathing area. The water is treated without chemical additives such as chlorine. It operates seasonally; check the current opening times before your visit. This makes it easier to plan a swim while keeping its seasonal opening conditions in mind.
The “Gartl Waterfall” experience programme also has a clear starting point: it begins at the Carinthian National Park Administration in Großkirchheim. It includes the “Urschreibecken” (primal scream basin), where visitors can let out a liberating scream. As these are programme details, it is advisable to check the latest information before booking. Those interested in shooting sports will find a 300 m-long shooting tunnel and a shooting cinema at the Großglockner Shooting Arena.
Gold Mining and Historic Buildings
The “Tauerngold” exhibition is housed in the Putzenhof, a guild house of the gold prospectors that is over 500 years old. The Putzenhof was built around 1540–1560 and later served as a home and workplace for gold miners. The exhibition and the building thus bring together the story of gold mining and a building whose own history dates back to this mining era.
The Alte Schmelz also points to the processing of precious metals: during Großkirchheim’s precious-metal mining era, it operated as a gold smelter. Today, the revitalised Alte Schmelz houses an event hall. In Döllach, the Kohlbarren zinc smelter is considered one of Europe’s most important industrial monuments because no comparable surviving buildings remain elsewhere in Europe. The Mentlhaus is a combined residential and farm building. It was built between 1650 and 1670 and, from 2013 onwards, was rebuilt board by board at the sports and leisure complex in Döllach.
Schloss Großkirchheim and Schlössl Großkirchheim were first mentioned in a document in 1140/50 as “locus Chyrichaim”. The 11.8 km Heiligenblut–Döllach stage of the Alpe-Adria-Trail lists Großkirchheim’s town centre and historic Schloss Großkirchheim as highlights. The route length provides a specific reference point for the stage; the town centre and castle are the named places to visit.
Churches in Sagritz and Putschall
A parish church in Sagritz was first mentioned in a document in 1271. The present building was constructed as a complete new build between 1769 and 1779, after the late Gothic church had fallen into disrepair. The leaning tower in front of the building, from the earlier late Gothic church, was preserved. At the Antonius Chapel in Sagritz, two dates stand apart: it was first mentioned in a document in 1301, while its keystone bears the year 1522.
The Putschall filial church, also known as Maria Hilf, was built in 1809. Its interior has a single nave and two bays, with a shallow dome. These details highlight the distinction between building history and spatial form: in Sagritz, the focus is on early mentions, the new build and the preserved tower, while the description of the Putschall church concerns its date and interior.
Local Routes and Transport
The Tauerngoldweg trail into the Große Zirknitztal valley is accessed via the municipality of Großkirchheim, which is part of the national park. Großkirchheim also has the “Glocknerradweg” cycle and hiking bus as part of its transport services. Check the current timetable before travelling.
For an overview of the wider region: Spittal An Der Drau.
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