Gurk: Cathedral, Lenten Cloth and Paths Through History

Gurk combines sacred art and medieval history. Beneath the choir area of Gurk Cathedral is a crypt with 100 columns. It was consecrated in 1174 and houses the tomb of Saint Hemma of Gurk. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Gurk will find a place where cultural discoveries, historical subjects and walks can be combined with different daily itineraries.

Cathedral, Crypt and the Gurk Lenten Cloth

The Gurk Lenten Cloth holds a special position. It is considered the oldest Velum quadragesimale preserved in Austria and is one of the largest painted Lenten cloths in Europe. Its dimensions are extraordinary: the cloth measures 8.87 × 8.87 metres, consists of two linen halves and is painted with tempera colours. The work was completed in 1458 in the workshop of Master Konrad von Friesach. The client was Cathedral Provost Johann Hinterkircher, commissioned for the church.

The Lenten Cloth depicts a total of 108 biblical scenes in 99 picture fields. It therefore offers more than a single historical detail: when engaging with the work, you can focus on its sequence of images, materials and period of creation. This is interesting when planning a trip together, if different interests come together and art history or medieval visual worlds play a role alongside the church interior.

Treasury and Historical Testimonies

The Gurk Treasury includes the Gurk portable altar from the 13th century. It also houses the Magdalene panel from Weitensfeld, Austria’s oldest documented example of stained glass, dating from around 1160/70. The Haus der Heimat in Gurk has a permanent exhibition in the renovated former sawmill of the cathedral chapter. These places broaden the view of Gurk to include artistic craftsmanship, regional and historical themes.

The Gurk Court Fountain is also part of the history of the town. Documents from the 12th century mention it; it is also called “Court Water”. Due to its location and use, it is considered a special form of a legal monument in Austrian medieval antiquarian studies and is connected with the cold-water ordeal as a divine judgment. The former Gurk Court Fountain is now the destination of the Heidenbrunnen Trail.

Circular Walks and Pilgrimage Route

The Gurk Market Walk is ideal for a compact exploration. The walk is 2.06 kilometres long and begins in front of Gurk Cathedral. The Heidenbrunnen Trail leads from the cathedral square in Gurk to the Heidenbrunnen. Its starting point is directly accessible by public transport.

The Hemma Pilgrimage Route covers a greater distance. Gurk Cathedral is its destination; the route leads from Slovenia over approximately 800 kilometres and invites you to follow in the footsteps of the founder of churches and monasteries. When choosing a holiday apartment, this primarily means considering your preferred travel rhythm: Would you like to get to know Gurk as a cultural destination, or place your stay within a spiritually themed journey?

Gurk as a Starting Point for Planning Your Trip

The forests around Gurk and the Gurk River provide abundant food for red and roe deer, mouflon, wild boar, beavers and martens. Nature thus complements the town’s historical highlights without requiring you to limit your trip to just one type of experience. If you are travelling with different interests, you can include culture, a circular walk and appreciation of the landscape in your plans. When searching for a holiday apartment in Gurk, therefore, first consider which of these themes should define your stay; the right accommodation choice can then follow your personal daily rhythm.

Other Places in the Surrounding Area

For further comparison, you can also include Lölling Graben, Straßburg, Weitensfeld im Gurktal, Krobathen, Kaindorf, Frauenstein, Liebenfels and Althofen in your further travel planning.

For the higher-level travel overview: Sankt Veit An Der Glan.