Stage 01 Hemma Pilgrimage Route Admont-Lassing

Accessible by public transport

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty medium

Route 26,4 km

Time 7:30 h

Uphill 565 hm

Downhill 450 hm

Highest point 840 m

Our first day’s stage leads from the unique Admont Abbey along the Salzlehrpfad Trail to Zirnitz. Crossing the Zirnitz Saddle, the route continues to Frauenberg and onwards towards Selzthal. From there, the pilgrimage continues to the “Heiliges Bründl” spring and Strechau Castle before ending in Lassing.

Saint Hemma was born around 980 and became known for her charity work and numerous foundations. With her wealth, she founded, among others, the Benedictine monasteries of Gurk and Admont. Today, Admont Abbey is home to the world’s largest monastic library.

From here, the route leads via Zirnitz and the Zirnitz Saddle to the pilgrimage church of Frauenberg, continuing through Selzthal to the “Heiliges Bründl” spring and Strechau Castle before reaching Lassing. Founded in 1074, Admont Abbey is the oldest surviving monastery in Steiermark and has been a religious and cultural centre of the region for centuries. After a devastating fire in 1865, the monastery was rebuilt. Today, it houses several museums alongside its famous library.

The pilgrimage church of Frauenberg, west of Admont, dates back to the 15th century and is known for its Gothic Madonna sculpture and the crucifix altar created by Josef Stammel.

One of the highlights of the tour is Strechau Castle high above the Paltental valley. The medieval fortress was transformed into a Renaissance castle in the 16th century and is now considered one of the most beautiful castles in Steiermark.

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

More information

Detailed information on how to get to Admont can be found here.

Starting from Admont Abbey, we follow the main road northwards. After crossing the Enns bridge, we turn right and cross the Eßlingbach stream via a footbridge. We then keep left along the road and follow the Eßlingbach upstream to the sports ground. From there, the route continues to the leisure park, where the Salt Trail begins and leads directly to Zirnitz. After around 4.2 kilometres and about one hour of walking, we reach the small village. In Zirnitz, we keep left again, cross the Zirnitz bridge, and join trail no. 632, which takes us up to the Zirnitz Saddle (813 m).

We continue along the marked trail, which joins the road to Frauenberg near the Forchner farm. Before reaching the swimming pond, we turn left and follow Frauenbergstraße to the Marian column, then keep right towards the church of Frauenberg. The route from Admont to Frauenberg takes just over two hours and covers around nine kilometres. From the church, the trail descends via the so-called Bettelsteig. We cross the Enns River at the Mödring bridge and follow the road towards Selzthal, which we reach after another two hours.

From Selzthal, the route initially follows the connecting road towards Rottenmann. We then cross the railway tracks and the A9 motorway heading west. Shortly afterwards, between the buildings of the company Deisl, we turn onto hiking trail no. 12, which leads to the “Heiliges Bründl” spring and onwards to Strechau Castle. From there, it is only another 45 minutes to Lassing along trail no. 4, followed by a short stretch on the main road into the village centre. The section from Selzthal to Lassing takes around two hours (8 km), with a gentle uphill climb for most of the way. For the entire stage from Admont to Lassing, at least six hours should be planned.

Informations about the whole Hemma Pilgrimage Trail

Accessible by train and bus: detailed information about arriving by ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways) can be found at www.oebb.at or on the Verbundlinie Steiermark website www.busbahnbim.at

With Verbundlinie’s BusBahnBim route planner app, planning your journey has never been easier: simply enter towns and/or addresses, stop names or points of interest to check all bus, train and tram connections in Austria. The app is available free of charge for smartphones – on Google Play and in the App Store

Free parking is available in the centre of Admont – west of the town hall and tourist information office – as well as at Admont railway station.

Steiermark Tourismus, Tel. +43 316 4003, www.steiermark.com

TV Gesäuse, Tel. +43 3613 2116010, www.gesaeuse.at

www.steiermark.com/pilgern

Monika Gschwandner-Elkins: Hemma Pilgerwege, ARGE Pilgern in Kärnten, 9020 Klagenfurt, Freytag&Berndt und Artaria KG, 2008