Grödig at the Untersberg: Cable Car, Trails and Culture

Grödig combines the distinctive Untersberg with a multifaceted cultural history and concrete opportunities for active days on holiday. In St. Leonhard, the Untersberg Cable Car starts its journey to the Geiereck, while a spring-fed stream rises in Fürstenbrunn and Trail 461 leads via the Schweigmühlalm and the Großer Eiskeller to the Mittagsscharte or directly to the Salzburger Hochthron. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Grödig can therefore plan their stay around a mountain ascent, a hike, local history and seasonal events.

Between the Almkanal and the Untersberg

The Almkanal has flowed through Grödig since the 13th century. In the Middle Ages, it was built to supply the city of Salzburg with water and was used for centuries as a lifeline for many businesses, especially mills. The waterway therefore tells not only of the landscape but also of the economic importance of historical water supply systems. At the foot of the Untersberg, a spring-fed stream rises in Fürstenbrunn at around 590 m above sea level; it formed one of the three sources of the Glanbach. This connection between the waterway, the foot of the mountain and the history of settlement provides your travel planning with a vivid cultural and scenic framework.

Mountain rides and trails for different day plans

The Untersberg Cable Car runs from St. Leonhard near Grödig to the Geiereck. The ride takes 8½ minutes and offers views of the city of Salzburg, the Berchtesgaden region and the Rosittental. For travel to the cable car, Bus Route 25 connects Salzburg Central Station via the city centre, Hellbrunn, Anif, Grödig and St. Leonhard with the Untersberg Cable Car. This allows the mountain ride to be included as a separate focus of your stay without tying your day planning to a particular way of getting there.

For hiking enthusiasts, Trail 461 leads from Fürstenbrunn, a district of Grödig, via the Schweigmühlalm and the Großer Eiskeller to the Mittagsscharte or directly to the Salzburger Hochthron. In addition, the 160-km-long Alpine long-distance hiking trail passes partly through the municipality of Grödig. Those wishing to include a ski route in their winter plans will find a 7.5-km-long route that begins a 15-minute walk from the mountain station of the Untersberg Cable Car and ends in Fürstenbrunn. There is also a pump track beside Grödig's stadium, providing another opportunity for activity.

Church, traditions and events

St. Leonhard Pilgrimage Church is a building of interest from an art and cultural-historical perspective. Its nave is Romanesque at its core, while the triumphal arch and chancel were built in the Gothic period. When planning your trip, you can therefore consider this site a cultural highlight alongside nature and mountain experiences. The annual Leonhardiritt takes place at St. Leonhard Pilgrimage Church in Grödig, at the foot of the Untersberg. The traditional St. Leonhard fair is held every year around the first weekend in September. Since 1973, the St. Leonhard Advent Market has also offered handicrafts from almost all Austrian federal states as well as from Bavaria and South Tyrol.

The right base for planning your trip

When looking for accommodation in Grödig, it helps to first decide on your preferred focus. For the cable car and the Untersberg, St. Leonhard and Fürstenbrunn become key points in your daily plans; for culture and traditions, you can consider the pilgrimage church as a cultural site and the Leonhardiritt, fair and Advent Market as separate occasions. Those who prefer longer routes can include Trail 461 or the Alpine long-distance hiking trail that passes through Grödig. If travelling without your own car is important, the connection provided by Bus Route 25 offers a clear point of reference.

Other places to include in your search

If you would like to extend your search beyond Grödig, you can also find Elixhausen, Sankt Gilgen, Siezenheim, Thalgau, Elsbethen, Henndorf Am Wallersee, Eugendorf and Hof Bei Salzburg.

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