Sankt Michael ob Bleiburg: Culture, Lake and Petzen

Sankt Michael ob Bleiburg combines distinctive cultural sites with nature experiences and activities for a variety of interests. The pilgrimage church of St Catherine, Lake Pirkdorf, Petzen and the World Field each give a trip its own focus. When searching for a holiday apartment, you can therefore already consider whether your trip should focus more on historical discoveries, water, physical activity or educational opportunities.

Pilgrimage Church and Listed Sites

A prominent cultural landmark is the pilgrimage church of St Catherine north of St Michael/Šmihel. It stands on a wooded hill above St Michael/Šmihel and offers views across the entire Jauntal Valley. Inside the church is a stone statue of St Catherine, slightly smaller than life-size, dating from the third quarter of the 14th century. Anyone interested in sacred art and older evidence of regional history will find a specific reason here to consciously shape the cultural part of their trip.

The historical character of Sankt Michael ob Bleiburg also includes the cemetery chapel and the wayside shrine. Both are protected as historic monuments by ordinance. Together with the pilgrimage church, they offer a varied way of experiencing the area: you can view individual buildings, explore art history or combine your stay with a view across the Jauntal Valley, without having to limit your trip exclusively to one theme.

Water, Meadows, Forests and Petzen

Lake Pirkdorf reaches temperatures of up to 27 °C in summer and is up to 3.5 m deep. Swimming is possible in Lake Pirkdorf. The lake lies between meadows and forests at the foot of the 2,114 m-high Petzen. These details make the lake an obvious option for days when you want to give nature and swimming a different priority than culture or events.

There is also a clear starting point for active experiences: the MTB ZONE Bikepark Petzen includes the Kids Nature Trail, a route for children. Families can take this information into account when planning their trip and consider whether, alongside quieter hours by the water, they would like to include an energetic activity. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can therefore consider whether physical activity and relaxation by the water should shape your holiday days equally.

World Field and Cultural Activities

The World Field | Njiva zemljanov in St Michael ob Bleiburg | Šmihel pri Pliberku is the first bilingual World Field. It combines a 200 m² global field with extensive vegetable cultivation. This gives the site an engaging way to explore topics related to agriculture, food and the use of our shared foundations of life.

Njiva zemljanov in Šmihel is also a place for education and culture, offering cultural events and workshops. The World Field team in St Michael ob Bleiburg also organises events for adults focused on sharing knowledge and networking with other institutions in Austria that work on biodiversity, preserving diversity and sustainable ecological agriculture. KPD Šmihel includes a theatre school that children and young people can attend throughout the year. Depending on age and interests, you can include the World Field, workshops or the theatre school as different cultural highlights in your plans.

Choosing the Right Holiday Apartment for Your Type of Trip

When searching for a holiday apartment in Sankt Michael ob Bleiburg, it is worth first deciding on your preferred daily rhythm. Decide whether you would rather structure your holiday days around individual excursions or combine different interests in a varied rhythm.

More places to help orientate your trip: Unterburg on Lake Klopein, Sankt Kanzian on Lake Klopein, Gallizien, Völkermarkt, Gösselsdorf, Klopein, Sittersdorf and Neuhaus.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Völkermarkt.