The abbey’s treasures, the Summer of Culture, which has been running since 1979, the Lavantradweg R10, which passes directly through the town, and tastings available on request give Sankt Paul im Lavanttal a variety of reasons to visit. When looking for a hotel, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on: culture, a route or a culinary event each offers a different reason to visit. You can then factor seasonal, route and travel information into your plans.
Art, Library and Music
The Benedictine Abbey of St. Paul houses one of Austria’s most valuable art collections, featuring significant treasures from the Middle Ages. After the National Library, the abbey library is one of Austria’s most important book collections, with around 70,000 volumes. The 11th-century Adelheid Cross consists of a wooden core covered with gold and silver sheets; it is adorned with 24 antique gems, three scarabs and 147 precious and semi-precious stones. An art collection, an extensive book collection and an intricately decorated cross thus offer different ways to explore cultural history. The St. Pauler Kultursommer offers a different focus: since 1979, it has brought music, culture and people together.
For 2026, the abbey museum has a specific seasonal schedule: from May 1 to October 31, it is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. If you are planning to visit the museum, choose a day that fits these opening hours and check the hours before you travel.
Cycling, Hiking and Nature
Sankt Paul lies directly on the Lavantradweg R10. The route is mostly flat and particularly suitable for families. There is a 10-kilometer gap between Wiesenau and Frantschach-St. Gertraud. When planning, take both the route’s characteristics and this gap into account, and check the current route conditions before setting off. Another option is the Kulturrundwanderweg 1: it passes through Deutsch-Grutschen, climbs to Ebenwald and then descends into the Granitztal valley. This gives you a choice between a mostly flat cycling route and a hiking trail with a described ascent and descent.
The Rabenstein via ferrata is located near the natural monument Flaumeiche. The Flaumeiche provides a habitat for numerous plants and animals. The St. Paul outdoor swimming pool has a pool area of 666 m². Its facilities include a sports pool, a 42-meter water slide, two waterfalls and a separate children’s pool. As opening arrangements may vary by season, check current opening information before planning a visit.
Regional Tastings
The Galerie der Mostbarkeiten has been based at the Zogglhof since 1997 and connects farm products with visitors from the Alpine-Adriatic region. The gallery offers guided tastings of its Mostbarkeiten products on request. It also holds the annual Alpine-Adriatic tasting with the Carinthian state awards. If you are planning a guided tasting, enquire about it. For the annual event, check the dates if you would like to plan your travel around it. The two options differ in this way: the guided tasting is available on request, while the Alpine-Adriatic tasting takes place annually.
Travel by Bus
Regular buses run from St. Paul im Lavanttal station to the town center and to the Hofrichtertor gate of St. Paul Abbey. They also run on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. If you would like to continue your journey by bus, check the current timetable for your travel date. This will help you coordinate your arrival time with your planned visit.
Discover more destinations: Bad Sankt Leonhard Im Lavanttal, Obergösel, Magdalensberg, Twimberg, Prebl, Framrach, Sankt Andrä, Kliening
View the overarching travel guide: Wolfsberg.
