The district of “St. Margarethen” is now named after its branch church and was first mentioned in an official document in 1444. A nature-themed trail also leads to the church. This lets you include local church history and nature themes in your plans and decide which focus should shape your time in Sankt Margarethen.

Church and Religious History

The Catholic branch church of St. Margaret in Sankt Margarethen is protected as a historic monument by decree. Processions of supplication to the church are still held today. The Bruderloch provides another historical point of reference: this stone cave is in the present-day district of St. Margarethen, north of Bad Vigaun. According to legend, church services were already held there in the 5th century AD. This places the district’s first documented mention in 1444 alongside a religious tradition dating back much further.

A Saturday evening service is held at 7:00 pm at the branch church of St. Margarethen. In even-numbered calendar weeks, it is a Holy Mass; in odd-numbered weeks, it is a Liturgy of the Word. Check the current service schedule before visiting, as times may change.

Trails Between Nature and Local History

The “Lifeline of Nature” themed trail features viewpoints, seating areas and information boards about water, forests and the Ice Age; it also includes a biotope. The trail leads to St. Margarethen Church. Its route thus connects nature themes with a specific link to local history, without requiring you to follow a fixed day plan.

A leisurely circular hiking trail passes through Sankt Margarethen and follows the “Lifeline of Nature” themed trail back to the starting point. For planning purposes, the described circular route is another point to consider, alongside the trail’s subject matter.

In the municipality of Bad Vigaun, a nature trail runs along the Taugl from Vitzthumgut to the Roman bridge. This trail is defined by the course of the river and its two endpoints. By contrast, the “Lifeline of Nature” themed trail focuses on its information boards, viewpoints and route to the church. You can then choose whether to focus more on water, forests and the Ice Age, or on the route along the Taugl.

The Taugl as a Natural Environment

In the protected landscape area of “Tauglgries”, the Taugl can shift freely within a gravel bed up to 100 metres wide. This makes the changing riverbed a distinctive feature of this landscape area.

In the municipality of Bad Vigaun, locals and visitors use the large, flat rock slabs along the Taugl as a swimming spot during the summer months. This is a seasonal activity; check local conditions before swimming. This gives you a choice between an excursion focused on nature and local history and a summer stay by the water.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Golling An Der Salzach, Taugl, Annaberg-Lungötz, Adnet, Sankt Koloman, Gaißau, Krispl, Hallein

Return to the main travel overview: Hallein.