Discover Gußwerk through two questions: Which traces of its mining history interest you, and what kind of activity would you like to include in your stay? The history of iron casting and the various routes point to different options for culture and activity. The church, museum collection and Cannon Park are all part of the picture, as are routes for walking, mountain biking and whitewater sports.

The Salzatal and its wooded landscape

Gußwerk is considered the gateway to the Salzatal. More than 80 percent of the area described for Gußwerk is forested. Together, these two features offer a brief orientation: the regional connection to the Salzatal and the extensive forest cover. The Sigmundsberg hiking route also begins on a forest path.

Cultural history of iron casting

The Church of the Holy Cross was built in 1850 by master builder Zearo from Judenburg, commissioned by the former Imperial and Royal Mining Administration. The year of construction and the commissioning authority provide different historical reference points: the year places the building in time, while the commission connects it to the mining administration. The place name Gußwerk comes from the old iron foundry and also points to the history of the area.

Two cannons, once made at Gußwerk’s old iron foundry, now stand as landmarks in the Cannon Park, which was created for them. The collection of the Gußwerk Mining Museum includes, among other things, decorated cast-iron stoves. The cannons connect the former foundry with a present-day landmark; the stoves offer a distinct point of reference as cast-iron objects in the museum collection.

To understand the area’s history, it is worth keeping these themes distinct: the church building and its commissioners, the former production at the iron foundry, and the decorated stoves in the museum collection each tell a different part of the local mining story.

Hiking, mountain biking and whitewater

The Sigmundsberg hiking route first follows a forest path, then runs alongside the river to Gußwerk. A mountain-bike route passes through the village; check the route conditions before setting out. When choosing between these two land routes, the practical difference is the activity: a hike with a forest and riverside section, or a mountain-bike route through Gußwerk.

The route along the Styrian Salza runs upstream from Wildalpen to Gußwerk and offers whitewater at difficulty levels I to II+. On the listed routes of the Styrian Salza, only licensed outdoor companies may be used for whitewater sports. This restriction is an important part of planning the river route.

The three routes each have a different focus: the Sigmundsberg route features a forest path and riverside section, the mountain-bike route passes through Gußwerk, and the Styrian Salza route is defined by its river section, whitewater grades and usage restriction. This lets you choose an activity based on the character of each route.

Discover more destinations: Turnau, Oberaich, Mariazell, Sankt Sebastian, Kapfenberg, Bruck An Der Mur, Aflenz Land, Aflenz Kurort

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