Karl: Pilgrimage, Chapels and Forests in the Upper Rabnitz Valley

Karl lies in the upper Rabnitz Valley and combines a forest-rich setting with an unusually dense ecclesiastical and pilgrimage history. Anyone wishing to combine nature, local history and religious heritage during their stay will find various points of interest here to incorporate into their own travel plans.

Ecclesiastical History in Karl

The focal point is the branch church in Karl. It was first mentioned in the visitation reports of Draßmarkt in 1597 and acquired its present form in 1723. The church is dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria. Together with the cemetery, the Catholic branch church of Saint Catherine in Karl is protected as a historic monument by official decree. This means that part of the town's history is also preserved through the historic ensemble, without reducing Karl to a single building.

Several chapels and wayside shrines form part of the town's religious character. The Oswald Chapel in Karl, a chapel dedicated to Saint Oswald, was already in existence in 1671 and acquired its present form in 1914. Pilgrimages from the surrounding communities to this chapel were first documented in 1723. Karl is also associated with the pilgrimage to Saint Oswald, the patron saint of livestock, as well as with the old local “Karler customs”.

Discover Wayside Shrines, Chapels and Crosses

The Marian wayside shrine in Karl contains depictions of Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of the Protective Mantle, the enthroned Madonna and Our Lady of Fátima. In 1992, it was inaugurated as the starting point of the Stations of the Cross. Other landmarks include the Furtner Chapel, built in 1860, and the Hubertus Chapel. The foundation stone of the latter was laid in 2009, and it was consecrated in 2012. The Chorbühel Cross acquired its present form in 1993.

The Papal Cross represents a special connection to the more recent pilgrimage history of Burgenland. One of 15 wooden crosses that served as confession stations during Pope John Paul II's visit to Burgenland in 1988 returned to Karl and is known there as the “Papal Cross”. Since the cross returned, a mass has been held there every year around the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. In 2023, a Stations of the Cross procession also led from the Marian wayside shrine to the Papal Cross on a Sunday during Lent.

A Forest-Rich Setting and Suitable Travel Planning

The forest-rich surroundings of Karl offer hikers peace, relaxation and recreation. This creates two clearly distinguishable focal points for your stay: You can focus more closely on the churches, chapels, wayside shrines and crosses, or combine the religious heritage with time spent in the forest landscape. Families and other travellers who wish to bring together different interests can make their daily plans varied, without every activity having to be of the same nature.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Karl, it is therefore worth first deciding on the focus of your trip. If local history and pilgrimage are important to you, the ecclesiastical heritage forms the main focus. If you are primarily looking for peace and outdoor activity, the forest-rich surroundings take centre stage. Accommodation in Karl can provide the setting for your personal travel plans; specific amenities, prices and availability should always be checked directly with the current listings.

For further orientation, you can also choose Stoob, Lackenbach, Neutal, Strebersdorf, Großmutschen, Draßmarkt, Mannersdorf An Der Rabnitz and Rattersdorf.

For the overarching travel overview: Oberpullendorf.