Discover Schellgaden: Gold Mining and the Mur Cycle Path

Schellgaden combines a mining history dating back to the Middle Ages with various opportunities to explore the village and its surroundings by bike. Those who wish to combine culture and activity will find specific points of reference here for planning their trip: the Powder Tower, a preserved building from the former mining complex; the Brugg Chapel; and several described cycling routes to or through Schellgaden. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can therefore decide whether to focus on the village’s historical side or on planning individual days of cycling.

Gold Mining and Historical Traces

Gold mining in Schellgaden has been documented since 1354. The gold mines were owned by the respective prince-archbishop before gold mining was discontinued in 1818. These dates provide a clear chronological framework for the history of the village and show that Schellgaden is interesting not only as a present-day starting point for activities.

The Powder Tower is the only remaining well-preserved building from Schellgaden’s former mining complex. It stands in the village, in the forest, about 150 m west of Haus Schönberger. Anyone interested in the history of gold mining can deliberately include this place in their day’s itinerary without reducing the historical development to a mere date.

The Brugg Chapel can also be reached using a short route description: From the main road in the village of Schellgaden, a path leads across the Mur bridge and, after about 100 m, directly to the chapel. This provides another specific point of orientation for visitors who wish to explore the village on foot.

Cycling with Different Route Options

There are several described options for cycling tours. The Speiche Muhr cycling route leads from St. Michael via Glashütte to Schellgaden. From Muhr to Schellgaden, the Mur Cycle Path follows a small, virtually traffic-free road before turning onto a farm track. On the outskirts of Schellgaden, the well-signposted Mur Cycle Path turns right onto a well-paved farm track.

Along the motorway route, the Mur Cycle Path also passes a former mill. Its millstones are displayed on the exterior wall of the house and form a striking detail along the route. For your planning, this means you can give different weight to historical impressions and a cycling tour instead of forcing all experiences into a uniform programme. When choosing your accommodation, consider whether you would like to focus your stay more on the history of the village or on the course of a cycling route.

Other Places for Planning Your Trip

If you would like to combine Schellgaden with other places as part of the same trip, here is a compact selection: Hinterweisspriach, Sankt Michael Im Lungau, Thomatal, Sankt Andrä Im Lungau, Begöriach, Wölting, Mauterndorf and Muhr. Before searching for a holiday apartment, you can compare which local history or cycling connection best suits your travel plans.

To the higher-level travel overview: Tamsweg.