Dellach: Gurina, GeoPark and Hiking Destinations

Discover Dellach through its distinctive cultural traces and vivid geological history: on Gurina stands the Temple of Hercules, a reconstruction of a Gallo-Roman ambulatory temple—unique in this form in Austria. The visitor centre of the Carnic Alps GeoPark is located in the municipal centre in the village of Dellach. There is also church art, hiking trails and the Carnic Cycle Route R3, which passes through the municipality. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Dellach, these varied highlights can guide your trip planning—from archaeology and geology to hiking and winter sports.

Gurina: Temple and History of the Finds

The Temple of Hercules lies north of Dellach. You can reach it via a short hiking trail, either from a car park in Dellach or from the car park at the road junction south of Gurina. Check local conditions before your visit. Gurina is also home to votive tablets bearing Venetian inscriptions, which are among the oldest in Austria. The first systematic excavations there began in 1884, led by A. B. Meyer. The reconstructed temple, inscriptions and history of the excavations offer different ways to explore the site’s past.

The burial mound site at Schmeißerboden can also be reached via the mountain road to Gurina or on foot along a hiking trail. Trail conditions may vary seasonally. Those focusing on archaeological sites can combine these destinations with a visit to Gurina—and should check local conditions for each route.

Geological History at the GeoPark Centre

The Carnic Alps GeoPark visitor centre presents selected fossils and rocks, interactive animations and film presentations covering more than 500 million years of geological history. Illustrative finds are displayed alongside multimedia presentations, together offering insights into a very long period of time. The centre provides hikers, tourists and those interested in geology with information about geologically interesting hikes and makes maps available. This gives you both exhibition content and hiking information in one place, at the municipal centre in Dellach.

Church Art and Hiking Destinations

An inscription in the chancel of the parish church of St. Daniel gives 1054 as its year of construction. On Wieserberg, St. Helena is a Romanesque hall church with a small semicircular apse and a Late Gothic tower dating from the early 16th century. Its Romanesque frescoes are among the treasures of Carinthia’s Romanesque art. The Wieserberg and St. Helena Church themed circular trail, TW_N12, is a moderately difficult, 6.2-kilometre circular hike with a historical focus.

To visit St. Helena on Wieserberg, you can obtain the key by presenting an ID during the municipal office’s opening hours: Monday to Thursday from 07:30 to 15:45 and Friday from 07:30 to 12:00. Office hours may change, so check them before your visit. Other hiking destinations offer different experiences: Jaukenalm has several hiking routes; the best-known one leads to Jaukenstöckl. The final ascent to the plateau of Goldenstein Castle ruins follows a narrow, steep path with fall-protection barriers. Sure-footedness and a head for heights are required.

Cycling, Cross-Country Ski Trail and Local Production

The Carnic Cycle Route R3 passes through the municipality of Dellach. There is a barbecue area on the R3 by the St. Daniel suspension bridge. Municipal winter sports information dated 10 September 2024 describes a cross-country ski trail groomed in winter along the Gail embankment, running from Kötschach-Höfling through St. Daniel, Dellach and the Nölblinger Steg, then onwards through Gundersheim-Kirchbach; it also mentions the groomed Nölbling trail. Snow and grooming conditions may vary, so check the latest information before a winter outing.

Local production is another specific feature: cheese is made at the small dairy by the Rosserhütte. When choosing a holiday apartment in Dellach, start by considering what you want your trip to focus on: geology, historic architecture, hiking, cycling or the winter cross-country ski trail. This lets you tailor your search to the experiences you actually plan, and check in advance on time-dependent details such as trail conditions or key collection.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Birnbaum, Forst, Kötschach-Mauthen, Egg bei Hermagor, Vorderberg, Weißbriach, Reisach, Maria Luggau

Return to the main travel overview: Hermagor.