Discover Tamsweg: Culture, Traditions and Landscape

Tamsweg’s distinctive character can be seen in its protected historic town centre, the architectural history of St. Leonhard and its regional traditions. Lake Prebersee is also part of the landscape, while the Leonhardsweg and various cycling routes cater to different travel plans. When choosing a holiday apartment, it is therefore helpful to decide first what you want to focus on: local history and culture, an experience of the landscape at Lake Prebersee, or active days on a longer route.

Church, Local History and Culture

Tamsweg’s historic town centre is one of seven protected townscape zones in the Province of Salzburg. A prominent landmark is St. Leonhard Church: construction began in 1421, and Bishop Johann Ebser of Chiemsee consecrated it in 1433. The church’s gold window consists exclusively of golden-yellow and blue panes of glass. This clear colour scheme adds a distinctive architectural detail to its history. St. Leonhard ob Tamsweg is also the only walled fortified church in the Province of Salzburg above the Murtalstraße.

The former Barbaraspital at Kirchengasse 2 is now the Lungau Local History Museum and is a listed building. The museum offers historical walks through Tamsweg for groups of five or more by online registration. Registration is required; check the current registration details before your visit. Kuenburg Castle is a historic castle on Kirchengasse and is open to the public as a “meeting place”. The three buildings offer different ways to explore local history during a stay: a church with distinctive details, a museum in a former hospital, and a castle in public use.

Lungau Traditions

The Vereinigten zu Tamsweg association shapes the cultural identity of the local population. Carrying the Samson figure is also part of the intangible cultural heritage: it was included in Austria’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010. Another tradition is the Tamsweg Preberschießen at Lake Prebersee. In November 2025, it was included in Austria’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The two entries highlight different cultural points of interest associated with Tamsweg and Lake Prebersee.

Lake Prebersee and Trails

Lake Prebersee near Tamsweg lies at an altitude of around 1,500 metres in a mountain landscape of dark forests and lush alpine pastures. Tamsweg is also home to the Preber high-altitude cross-country ski trail. The lakeside landscape and a named cross-country skiing option offer different points of reference for planning a trip.

The signposted Leonhardsweg runs from Salzburg Cathedral to the Church of St. Leonhard in Tamsweg and is 140 kilometres long. For cyclists, the Lungau Bike Tour offers another option: Tamsweg is a suitable starting point, and the entire tour can be completed on an e-mountain bike. The Murradweg stretches for more than 365 kilometres from Lungau through Styria to the Slovenian border. It is rated easy to moderately difficult and follows paved and well-maintained cycling paths made of asphalt, gravel and crushed stone. The routes differ in length, destination or course, difficulty level and surface—all useful considerations when choosing a route to suit your travel plans.

Getting There, Cuisine and Choosing Accommodation

As the district capital, Tamsweg has a railway station accessible via the Styrian Murtalbahn. Culinary specialities associated with Tamsweg include Hasnöhrl’n with sauerkraut and Schöpsessen with Lungau Ächtling potatoes.

When choosing a holiday apartment, you can take your preferred focus into account: if you are interested in local history, you can include the protected town centre and Tamsweg’s cultural attractions in your plans. Tamsweg is a suitable starting point for planning the Lungau Bike Tour. The landscape at Lake Prebersee, cultural discoveries and cycling routes offer different perspectives to help you decide what kind of holiday you would like to enjoy in Tamsweg.

Discover more destinations: Ramingstein, Sankt Michael Im Lungau, Tamsweg, Sankt Margarethen Im Lungau, Sankt Andrä Im Lungau, Zederhaus, Muhr, Wölting, Tweng, Unternberg, Thomatal, Weißpriach, St. Martin, Schellgaden, Zankwarn, Mariapfarr, Mauterndorf, Göriach, Katschberg, Hinterweisspriach, Begöriach and Lessach.

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