Discover Dörfla

Dörfla can be explored through two distinct themes: the St. Martin im Sulmtal Legends Trail and historic equipment in the Old Fire Station. The trail connects stories with the places where they originated and with local history. The depot of the St. Martin im Sulmtal Volunteer Fire Brigade at Dörfla 20 displays equipment dating from the year the brigade was founded, 1904. This brings together the landscape and settlement history on one hand, and fire brigade history on the other. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, these different themes can help you choose the focus of your stay.

Legends Trail: Stories and Landscape

The St. Martin im Sulmtal Legends Trail runs through an appealing natural landscape; at the same time, it relates to significant historic settlement areas in the cadastral municipalities of Dörfla, Sulb and Aigen. Its stories are linked to the places where they originated, and the trail also explores local history. It therefore offers three distinct points of interest: the landscape, local traditions and the history of the settlement areas. The municipal route description rates the trail as moderate. You can take this rating into account when choosing your activities; before planning, also check the current condition of the trail, as conditions can change.

Equipment and House History

The Old Fire Station focuses on a specific historic collection: equipment from the year the St. Martin im Sulmtal Volunteer Fire Brigade was founded, 1904, is displayed and presented. The founding year gives the objects a timeframe. If you are planning to visit the depot, it is advisable to check current visiting arrangements in advance.

Another historic point of interest is the Lukas-Hydn House at Dörfla 28. It was built three years after the Franziszean Cadastre was drawn up in 1828. The cadastre is the chronological reference point here, not the year the house was built. The history of the house can thus be viewed as a separate thread alongside the history of the fire brigade: one concerns the construction of a specific house, the other equipment dating from the year a fire brigade was founded.

Church and Culture in St. Martin

The parish church of St. Martin im Sulmtale also provides a historic and architectural point of reference. It is first mentioned in 1244. Its exterior is described as a simple Baroque church building; only a few remains of the Gothic church have survived. The first mention and the later architectural features answer different questions: the year provides an early written reference, while the description places the building’s form and surviving traces of its predecessor in context.

The “Styrian Singers’ and Musicians’ Gathering” is part of cultural life in St. Martin and is an activity of the St. Martin Folk Dance Group. It has been held in the St. Martin cultural hall every two years for decades. A clearly dated example of a stage production there is the performance of “Charley’s Aunt” by the VTG-Bühne St. Martin i. S. in January 2023, which took place on several dates. The play was therefore part of a past programme; if you are planning a trip around the recurring musicians’ gathering, check the current event dates.

Different Routes, Different Focuses

In addition to the Legends Trail, the Ölspur Large Family Tour No. 727 is another named route option: near Dörfla it leaves the main road and then continues to Dietmannsdorf. This information answers a different wayfinding question from the description of the Legends Trail. The latter focuses on stories, local history and the settlement areas it passes through; for Tour No. 727, the described route is the key point of reference. This lets you choose routes according to their respective themes without combining them into a single route.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Dörfla, your planned interests can help you decide: if you want to explore stories, landscapes and settlement history, the Legends Trail is the right thematic starting point. If historic equipment interests you, the fire station depot is worth considering; for architectural history and culture, the parish church and events in St. Martin offer further topics. Choose your focus and plan your trip accordingly.

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