Goritschach: Trails, the Drau and Special Discoveries

Goritschach offers specific starting points for a trip that brings trails, nature observation and regional history together. The focus is on the route “Rail & Trail – Slow Trail – Via Wernberg Abbey through the Drau Loop”. It runs along Goritschacher Straße and Margarethenweg through Goritschach to Goritschach Primary School. From there, it continues via forest and field paths as well as farm roads to Wernberg Abbey. The return route follows the Wernberg Drau Loop and the Drau to Wernberg Adventure Pool.

A route with different trail surfaces

The route includes various surfaces: 30.46 % are asphalt, 25.57 % gravel paths, 12.94 % natural paths and 17.99 % trails. In addition, 6.72 % consist of roads and 6.29 % of unknown sections. This breakdown is useful for your planning because the route does not consist of just one type of path.

The route connects several clearly named stops. Starting at Goritschach Primary School, the section initially leads via forest and field paths as well as farm roads to Wernberg Abbey. The return route then follows the Wernberg Drau Loop and the Drau before reaching Wernberg Adventure Pool. This allows the excursion to be planned as one connected discovery: first, trails through Goritschach and to the abbey, followed by the route along the Drau Loop and the Drau.

Birdwatching at the Wernberg Drau Loop

The route leads to the Wernberg Drau Loop, where around 130 bird species have been recorded so far. This focus is particularly interesting for travelers who want to experience nature rather than simply pass through it. The municipality of Wernberg offers three-hour “Bird Watching” tours at the Wernberg Drau Loop. Such a tour can be a separate item on your itinerary, while the route describes the scenic access to this area. Families can plan nature observation as a shared focus of their trip and choose between a trail experience and a guided activity focused on the birdlife.

Abbey, Urch Cross and local history

Cultural details are also part of the route. The route leads from Goritschach Primary School to Wernberg Abbey. The Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood acquired this property in 1935. This specific historical reference provides the destination with a point of reference in time without conflating the history of the abbey with other events.

Another distinctive detail is the Urch Cross. It has a semicircular rear wall, a broad gabled roof and a wooden crucifix. The Urch Cross stands by the Eder Inn at the corner of Goritschacher Straße and Sichelweg. Anyone interested in regional religious and everyday history can include this design in their own discovery route while paying attention to its exact location.

Bus connections and suitable accommodation planning

For travel to the area, bus route 333 connects Goritschach with Föderlach, Wernberg and Villach. You can include this connection in your travel plans if you want to coordinate your excursions with your choice of base. When looking for a holiday apartment or other accommodation, it makes sense to first determine your desired focus: Should the route through Goritschach and to the abbey be the priority, birdwatching at the Wernberg Drau Loop, or combining several excursion destinations by bus? This way, your choice of location is based on your actual daily itinerary rather than on a general idea of the holiday destination.

More places for your travel planning: Gorintschach, Gschriet, Winkl, Fresach, Feistritz An Der Drau, Rosenbach, Glanz and Laastadt.

For the overarching travel overview: Villach.