Berndorf: Nature, Culture and Trails Around Lake Grabensee

Berndorf near Salzburg combines a gently varied rural cultural landscape with special natural and cultural attractions. Paths lead between farms and hamlets to the lime tree at Thurn and around Lake Grabensee. Other highlights include a distinctive parish church, memories of Franz Xaver Gruber and a paved pump track. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment in Berndorf can therefore plan their stay around their own interests: discovering nature, following historical traces or enjoying active days by bicycle and on foot.

Landscape at Lake Grabensee and Views

The municipality includes Lake Grabensee, the smallest of the three Trumer Lakes. The lake is surrounded by a protected landscape and nature reserve. The largely undeveloped, natural shores and the extensive marshes on the western and northern shores provide habitats and breeding grounds for rare animal species. The lake is therefore a distinct natural area whose landscape is particularly suited to mindful exploration.

Another characteristic landmark is the lime tree at Thurn above the Kalchgrubergut farm. The tree stands at an elevation of 687 m and has been designated a protected natural monument since 1992. At the same time, the lime tree is a viewpoint offering views of the village, far across Upper Austria’s Innviertel region and south towards the mountains. Two hiking trails provide different perspectives: one leads from the village via Oberkarellen, Stadl and Buchwinkl to the plague column and onwards to the lime tree at Thurn, before returning to Berndorf via several hamlets. The other runs via Mangelberg to Gransdorf, around Lake Grabensee and back to the starting point via Stemesed, Flurnsbach and Kreuzweg.

Culture and Local History

Several historical periods converge in Berndorf. The present-day parish church and the Anna Chapel were built around 1440 in the Late Gothic style. Around 1700, the parish church was a popular pilgrimage destination known as “Maria in den Erlen”. Its tower received its distinctive Baroque onion dome in 1684. Instead of a cross, its summit is topped by a 2 m-high Madonna of the Rays. This feature makes the tower the only church tower in Salzburg’s Flachgau region with such a crowning.

Franz Xaver Gruber is also part of the town’s history. He lived from 25 November 1787 to 7 June 1863 and composed the melody of the song “Silent Night, Holy Night”. A bronze statue commemorates him at the cemetery wall in Berndorf. Those interested in regional culture can connect this local history with the churches, the pilgrimage tradition and the memory of the composer.

Trails, Cycling and Distinctive Landmarks

The Bavarian-Roman Cycling Tour from Mattsee to Waging am See runs directly through Berndorf near Salzburg. The pump track in Sportplatzstraße offers another active diversion. The paved continuous loop features rollers, steep turns and jumps and can be ridden without pedalling on various devices, from bicycles to skateboards.

At the old village square, a VIA NOVA fountain in front of the Neuwirt inn marks the municipality’s location on the European VIA NOVA pilgrimage route. Since 2022, there has also been an audio guide with information about the municipality and the VIA NOVA at the Bear Fountain next to the parish office and at a rest area built by the local youth association. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore consider whether you would like to focus on hiking trails, the lake, cultural history or sporting activities.

More Destinations for Travel Planning

For further searches, you can also consider Siezenheim, Koppl, Abersee, Fuschl Am See, Salzburg, Oberndorf near Salzburg, Feichten and Michaelbeuern.

For the higher-level travel overview: Salzburg-Flachgau.