On the slopes of the Koralpe lies Ettendorf Parish Church, designed predominantly in the Historicist style and featuring a Gothic choir from its predecessor building. The Lavant Cycle Route R10 along the Lavant takes a different thematic focus; the Geological Nature Trail also runs along it. Together, the two areas connect local history and architecture with cycling, landscape and geology.
Parish Church and Building History
Ettendorf Parish Church was built in 1786 and rebuilt after a fire in 1861. Its architecture is predominantly Historicist; at the same time, a Gothic choir from the predecessor building has been preserved. Different building phases therefore meet here: the choir belongs to the earlier church building, while the predominantly Historicist design shapes the character of the present building. A choir is the altar area of a church.
In architecture, Historicism draws on forms from older styles. By contrast, the Gothic choir here is explicitly a surviving part of the predecessor building. So it is not just a single year of construction that makes the church’s history interesting: the rebuilding after the fire, its Historicist character and the older choir together point to different phases in its building history.
The church’s associations also differ: Saint Mark is the patron saint of the parish church; Tonikirchtag is celebrated every year on 17 January in honour of Saint Anthony. Mark is therefore the church’s patron saint, while Anthony is the saint in whose honour the feast day is held.
The Lavant, Cycle Route and Nature Trail
In Ettendorf, the Lavant Cycle Route R10 follows the Lavant. There is plenty of nature on both sides of the route. The Geological Nature Trail lies directly alongside the R10 on the section from Lavamünd to Ettendorf. This brings together a riverside setting, nature along the route and a geological theme within the same route corridor.
The R10 and the nature trail are not two names for the same thing: the R10 is the cycle route along the Lavant, while the nature trail focuses on geology and runs directly alongside the route. When choosing an outing, you can decide whether cycling along the river or geology is the main draw.
Planning Your Stay
The parish church offers a lovely view of Ettendorf and the surrounding area; visibility depends on the weather. There are several public, free-of-charge parking areas in the town centre. As availability may change, check the parking options before you travel.
There are different points to check when planning: if Tonikirchtag is central to your stay, check the date in advance. If you plan to focus on the R10, take the route conditions into account before your visit; the view from the church depends on the weather. This distinguishes a fixed festival date from the conditions that affect an outdoor stay.
For the broader travel overview: Lavamünd.
