Wasserhofen: Church Art, the Way of St. James and Cycling Tours

Wasserhofen combines an unusual church-history attraction with several routes for pilgrims and cyclists.

St. Magdalene's Church and its history

The Catholic Church of St. Magdalene in Wasserhofen belongs to the municipality of Sankt Kanzian am Klopeiner See. It is a subsidiary church of Kühnsdorf and is dedicated to Mary Magdalene. The Church of St. Mary Magdalene is first mentioned in documents dating from 1580. At the same time, it was probably built shortly before 1580 as a Protestant place of worship for the neighboring Wasserhofen Castle. This dating makes the building particularly interesting for visitors who, while traveling, want to discover not only well-known sights but also the historical layers of a place.

The church is protected as a historic monument by ordinance. Its circular structure has a painted, stenciled wooden ceiling that was restored in 1971. The 18th-century altar displays a painting of St. Mary Magdalene. The wall paintings entitled “Ecce homo” by contemporary artist Valentin Oman provide a distinctive accent. Wasserhofen thus offers a tangible cultural destination where architectural history, religious tradition and contemporary art meet in a single building.

Wasserhofen on pilgrimage and cycling routes

On its sixth stage from Edling to Gallizien, the Carinthian Way of St. James passes directly by the subsidiary Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Wasserhofen. For pilgrims, the church is therefore a clear point of reference along this stage. Those planning a journey with longer sections on foot can experience the village as part of a pilgrimage route; those focusing on culture can visit the church independently of the route as a whole.

Cyclists also have various options. The RadKultTour passes Wasserhofen Castle. In addition, the 6-Lakes Tour follows a cycle path through Wasserhofen to Unterburg on Lake Klopein. These two details represent different excursion directions: one route combines cycling with a view of the castle, while the other continues through Wasserhofen toward Unterburg. When choosing your accommodation, therefore, consider whether the focus should be on visiting the church and learning about its history, a pilgrimage stage or a day of cycling.

Arrival and accommodation to suit your travel plans

For orientation when using public transportation, the Wasserhofen bus stop is identified by the code SÜD070. When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday house in Wasserhofen, you can consider this information alongside your personal travel plans. What matters is less a general impression of the village than which of the documented experiences you would like to include in your stay: church art and history, the Carinthian Way of St. James or one of the two cycling routes. For families with different interests, this division can help combine shared excursions and individual priorities sensibly without limiting the stay to just one type of travel.

Other places for planning your trip

If you would like to compare Wasserhofen with other destinations or plan your route across several places, you can also explore Gallizien, Globasnitz, Bad Eisenkappel, Sittersdorf, Oberseidendorf, Feistritz Ob Bleiburg, Seelach and Untergreutschach. Wasserhofen itself is particularly interesting when you want to combine the search for accommodation with culture, a pilgrimage route and cycling tours.

For the overarching travel overview: Völkermarkt.