Rail & Trail „Burgjuwel Taggenbrunn - Harmonie zwischen Weinstöcken, Tiefblick u

Starting point is Carinthia's medieval center of power: the ducal city of St. Veit an der Glan. From St. Veit a.d.Glan train station, we initially hike through the green settlements of the city belt, then on a farm road through the riverside forest of the Wimitzbach stream and the fields of the valley plain. A first glance at the striking hilltop castle Taggenbrunn makes one ponder: "So that's where Carinthia was ruled from in the Middle Ages!" At the railway tracks, we overcome the first terrain step and reach the foot of the castle hill via quiet side roads. Through steep, dense mountain forest, we quickly ascend on a natural forest path. Halfway up, we reach a terrain terrace with a magnificent panoramic view of St. Veit. Above, the castle thrones with a modern panoramic elevator, which begins here. Now we immerse ourselves in a landscape full of harmony: grapevines, architecture in the interplay of history and modernity, and art. A panoramic high-altitude road leads us slightly downhill along the edge of grapevines around the mountain to the new Taggenbrunn winery. The late Gothic granary on the left is, by the way, a rare testimony of its time. And the 12 m high Earth Goddess sculpture shortly thereafter – a nature spirit to protect Taggenbrunn and its visitors – is by André Heller. The summit assault takes place on a wonderful footpath through a sea of grapevines. At Taggenbrunn Castle (636 m) we finally stand at the highest point – congratulations! An extraordinary panoramic view over grapevines to the St. Veit basin, the Zollfeld, and as far as Hochosterwitz Fortress rewards us. The descent leads again through grapevines, but this time with atmospheric landscape cinema. Who would have expected Italian Abruzzo flair in Carinthia? At the foot of the castle hill, the ambiance changes: urban everyday life accompanies us further. We follow the main road on a sidewalk and walk through a settlement belt back to St. Veit a.d.Glan train station.Short hike: 1h 55min, 6.65 km, 171 mLink to the route:

Opening hours & season

• 01.04.2026 – 31.10.2026dailyopen all day