Stage 03 From Glacier to Wine South Route Stoderzinken - Rohrmoos - Giglachseen

From Schladming-Rohrmoos, this stage of the Hiking Trail From Glacier to Wine leads deep into the heart of the Schladminger Tauern and to one of the most beautiful mountain lake landscapes in the region: the Giglach Lakes. The tour is made considerably easier by taking the Hochwurzen Summit Cable Car from Rohrmoos to the Hochwurzenhütte. The ascent is included free of charge with the Schladming-Dachstein Sommercard, allowing hikers to save a substantial amount of elevation gain at the start of the day. The destination of the stage is the idyllic Giglach Lakes, where the Ignaz Mattis Hut provides accommodation and refreshments. Alternatively, the nearby Giglachseehütte, located just a few hundred metres to the west, offers another welcoming mountain hut option. The two lakes, the Upper Giglach Lake and the considerably larger Lower Giglach Lake, lie nestled in a spectacular alpine setting beneath the Lungauer Kalkspitze and the Steirische Kalkspitze. Surrounded by rugged mountain peaks, alpine meadows, and pristine wilderness, they form one of the most scenic natural highlights of the entire Schladminger Tauern range. This stage combines the dramatic mountain scenery of the Tauern with the tranquillity of crystal-clear alpine lakes, creating an unforgettable hiking experience in the heart of the Austrian Alps.

The Schladminger Tauern are not only one of the most beautiful hiking regions in the Alps, but also conceal remarkable treasures beneath the surface. For centuries, these mineral resources played a crucial role in the prosperity of the former mining town of Schladming.

Mining activities were carried out in areas such as Bromriesen, Roßblei, Duisitzkar, Eschachalm, Neualm, Krombach, and Krahbergzinken, where copper, silver, lead, zinc, cobalt, and nickel were extracted. The mining of silver ore in particular made Schladming one of the most important mining centres in Austria between the late 13th century and the 15th century.

Today, visitors can follow in the footsteps of the miners at the historic Bromriesen Mine. Exploring the former mining tunnels on a guided tour offers a fascinating journey into the region's industrial past. Equipped with lamps and accompanied by experienced guides, visitors gain authentic insights into the challenging underground world in which generations of miners worked.

The tour vividly illustrates how dependent local communities once were on the riches hidden within the mountains and how physically demanding and often dangerous mining life could be. Deep inside the mountain, surrounded by tunnels carved into the rock, history comes to life in a truly memorable way.