Discover Katschberg: Pöllatal, Churches and Trails

Katschberg offers different ways to experience nature, history and excursions. The main attractions include the Pöllatal Nature Reserve, historic churches in the Katschtal valley, trails offering special experiences and, in winter, the connection between Rennweg and the Katschberg ski area. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can therefore first consider whether your trip should focus on discovering nature, cultural impressions or winter activities.

Nature experiences in Pöllatal

The Pöllatal Nature Reserve extends into Rennweg am Katschberg. The region around the Inneres Pöllatal core zone has been designated a European protected area since 2009. This provides a natural setting that you can include in your excursion planning if nature and outdoor activities are among the most important themes of your holiday.

In summer, Pöllatal can be reached from the barbecue area or P1 car park on foot, by bicycle or by the Tschu-Tschu-Bahn. This allows you to choose your means of transport according to the type of excursion you want. The train can carry up to 62 people through the valley and is available for family and group excursions. The Bacherlebnisweg trail is also interesting for families: it follows the Lieser River, while information boards allow children to explore nature.

Churches and mining history in the Katschtal valley

The cultural history of the surrounding area is also part of Katschberg’s character. The parish church of St Peter in the Katschtal valley in Rennweg was first mentioned in historical records in 1351. Most of the altars and statues date from around 1700. St Peter near Rennweg served the Lords of Katsch as their hereditary burial place from the late Middle Ages onwards. These historical connections add another focus to a trip if, in addition to landscapes, you would also like to discover the region’s past.

The branch church of St George in the Katschtal valley offers further details of art and architectural history. The present church is a late Baroque new building dating from 1780 to 1782. The central painting of the late Baroque high altar was completed by Josef Messner in 1861. Another aspect of regional history can be found at the historic Pocherhaus in Oberdorf: it was the centre of mining in Pöllatal, where gold and silver were extracted.

Plan trails and excursions consciously

At the Katschberg Advent Trail, a subsequent section is approximately 2 km long and can only be covered on foot. You should take this requirement into account if you want to combine different types of excursions. In winter, a free ski bus also connects Rennweg with the Katschberg ski area in just a few minutes. This means you can also choose your accommodation according to whether you want your holiday to focus more on winter excursions or on the natural and cultural attractions of the Katschtal valley.

Pöllatal appeals to travellers who want to include a natural setting, a waterside trail and various transport options in their plans. The churches and the Pocherhaus offer different points of interest and provide an introduction to the history of the Katschtal valley and mining. The free ski bus adds a winter option to this selection.

Other places to include in your search

If you would like to extend your search to other destinations, you can also include Weißpriach, Thomatal, Zederhaus, Unternberg, Tweng, Ramingstein, Begöriach and Wölting in your further travel planning.

For the overview of the wider region: Tamsweg.