The Kitzloch Gorge is a defining part of the natural landscape during a stay in Taxenbach: rainwater and meltwater have shaped the gorge, alongside idyllic coves and rugged rock faces rising several metres high. Building and mining history, as well as cycling, offer other themes to explore. You can focus on nature, historic sites or a specific cycling route, and tailor your stay to your own interests.
Kitzloch Gorge: Hike and via ferratas
The hike through the Kitzloch Gorge is about 1.7 kilometres long and takes approximately one to one and a half hours. These details give you a concrete idea of how much time to set aside for the gorge. The Kitz via ferratas offer another way to explore the area: they have different levels of difficulty, and the “Höhlensprint” route is suitable only for very experienced climbers. The via ferratas operate seasonally, and conditions may vary. Before planning a via ferrata visit, check the current situation.
Chapel, tunnel and castle hill
The Ritzstollen tunnel in the Kitzloch Gorge bears the date 1553. Miners carved it in search of gold. Alongside the gorge shaped by water, it is a tangible reminder of the area’s mining history.
A municipal publication from 2021 states that the Frauenkapelle (Chapel of Our Lady) was built between 1710 and 1712 and describes it as an octagonal central-plan building. The same publication identifies the chapel as a branch church of the parish of Taxenbach. Its construction period and architectural form give your visit an architectural and historical context, while its ecclesiastical affiliation offers another perspective on the chapel.
Castle Hill is one of the stops on the Taxenbach Time Journey, a historical themed trail through Taxenbach. Only remnants of the walls remain on Castle Hill as a reminder of the former hilltop castle. The route of the themed trail and the surviving remains of the former castle are two distinct historical points of interest here.
Cycling in Taxenbach
There are also two clearly distinct details to consider when planning a cycling trip. The cross-border Tauern Cycle Path runs directly through Taxenbach. A mountain bike tour to the Hochkaseralm, on the other hand, starts at the ZiegelhĂĽtte in Taxenbach; the tour is listed as 10.9 kilometres long with 733 metres of elevation gain. For the Tauern Cycle Path, the key detail is that it passes directly through the town. For the mountain bike tour, you can factor the starting point, distance and elevation gain into your plans. Route conditions and access to the mountain bike tour may vary seasonally; check before setting out.
Getting there by train and bus
Taxenbach has a railway station that can be used to get there. There are several bus stops in Taxenbach and its villages. Bus route 631 runs between Dienten and Taxenbach; route 640 runs between Zell am See, Taxenbach and Rauris (Bucheben). These details describe different ways of getting there without specifying a particular connection or journey time. Check the current timetables before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Maishofen, Niedernsill, Erlberg, Piesendorf, Vorstanddorf, Lengdorf, Jochbergthurn, Vorderglemm
Go to the main travel overview: Zell Am See.
