Matrei in Osttirol is the heart of Hohe Tauern National Park. When planning your trip, you can choose from a range of options: trails through a gorge carved by water, an excursion to Gschlösstal, or historic art and architecture in the town. This lets you tailor your stay to whether you mainly want to experience the landscape or learn more about the history of the market town.
Gorge trails and alpine scenery
The Proßegg Gorge was carved by the Tauernbach stream; its steep walls drop more than 120 metres. From the district of Proßegg, a red-marked mountain trail climbs gently into and through the gorge. Along the way, you can enjoy a view of the Steiner Waterfall. Trail conditions can change with the seasons, so check conditions before setting out.
Gschlösstal offers a different landscape experience. It can be explored on foot from the Matreier Tauernhaus and is considered the most beautiful valley head in the Eastern Alps. This ancient, unspoiled natural landscape provides a habitat for many rare animal and plant species. The Innergschlöss Glacier Trail climbs about 500 metres in elevation to Lake Salzbodensee and continues to the glacier gate of the Schlatenkees at the foot of Großvenediger. Alpine conditions and seasonal access can change, so plan your route with current conditions in mind.
Those interested in the history of the market town can also discover it along the Matrei Valley Trail: this route, just under 15 kilometres long, offers historical information about Matrei in Osttirol. The routes offer distinct experiences: local history along the valley trail, the gorge and waterfall on the trail through the Proßegg Gorge, and an elevation gain in Gschlösstal. Trail signage and maintenance may change.
Art, customs and history
In the town centre, the Klaubauf Museum displays 126 Klaubauf masks by more than 20 carvers. This number gives a sense of the collection’s diversity: the masks come from many different carvers, offering more than just a single perspective on local customs.
The interior paintings in St. Nicholas Church date to around the year 1200. The scenes are considered unique in the East Tyrol region. The church is also home to almost the only depictions in the Romanesque style that still retain their vivid colours. Their date and regional context give the church a distinct place alongside Matrei’s nature trails.
The Außergschlöss Rock Chapel also brings together history and a remarkable setting: it was built inside a natural cave in 1870, after earlier chapels had been destroyed by avalanches. Its origins set it apart from both the medieval-dated church paintings and the museum’s collection.
Weißenstein Castle is about 900 years old. As it is privately owned, it cannot be visited; bear this in mind when choosing your cultural destinations.
More things to do and getting there
In winter, the market town of Matrei is directly connected to East Tyrol’s largest ski area via the valley station of the Großglockner Resort Kals/Matrei. Lift operations and conditions vary by season. For a different way to get around, consider the Iseltal cycle path, which is paved for most of its length. These options can be enjoyed separately and do not need to be combined into a fixed itinerary.
You can reach the Matreier Tauernhaus from Matrei by public bus. As services and timetables may change seasonally, check the timetable if you plan to use this connection to get to Gschlösstal. When choosing your destinations, you can distinguish between the town’s local history and culture and the hiking trails and alpine scenery associated with the Matreier Tauernhaus and Gschlösstal.
Discover more destinations: Leisach, Schlaiten, Nußdorf-Debant, Virgen, Niedermauern, Kals am Großglockner, Heinfels, Innergschlöss.
Return to the main travel overview: Lienz.
