Discover Gaal

Gaal combines mountain scenery, distinctive cultural sites and a wide range of activities. Lake Ingeringsee lies at 1,200 m in the Seckau Alps, while chapels and churches tell the story of the area’s long history. There are also climbing experiences, winter sports and a regional cider made from traditional old apple varieties.

Nature experience at Lake Ingeringsee

Lake Ingeringsee is a mountain lake in Gaal surrounded by the Seckau Alps. Walking around it takes about 45 minutes. This specific time estimate can help you plan your day if you want to combine time by the water with other activities. When arriving by car, an asphalt road initially leads to the lake. Shortly before the lake, a gravel road begins and continues to the car park. Access is closed in winter. Bear this restriction in mind if the lake is part of your travel plans and you are choosing the right period for your accommodation in Gaal.

A free hiking and leisure map is available to help you find your way around the municipality. It shows hiking and ski routes, a circular hiking trail, themed trails, as well as car parks, restaurants and snack stops. This allows you to select suitable routes and plan hikes, skiing trips and breaks at restaurants or snack stops during your stay in Gaal.

Chapels, church and castle

Gaal offers several very different cultural and historical points of interest. Wasserberg Castle was built around 1260 by Bishop Bernhard of Seckau. St. Peter’s Church in Gaal has Romanesque origins and was probably built around 1200.

The Klementi Chapel was built in 2015 by the Wasserberg forestry administration and dedicated to Saint Clement. Its distinctive details include an altar made from a large tree trunk and a window overlooking Lake Ingeringsee. The Maria Loretto alpine chapel lies below the Rosenkogel at 1,850 m. It was built in 1935 after the previous chapel burned down in a lightning strike during the First World War. In winter, Maria Loretto is a destination for ski tourers and snowshoe hikers. Traditionally, a wind-instrument musicians’ gathering also takes place there on the fourth Sunday in August.

Active days and winter options

At Alpinpark Steinmühle, you can expect a high-rope course set in a rocky natural landscape. The various difficulty levels range from options for beginners to challenges for experts. The park also includes a rappel course, a Pamper Pole, a glockenspiel and several Flying Fox zip lines. This allows you to choose between different forms of physical activity when planning your trip, without having to set all activities at the same level of intensity.

Gaal also offers several clearly defined options in winter. The Gaal ski lifts have a 2.3 km ski highway. Night skiing takes place on 1.4 km of prepared slopes. In the Gaal snowshoe taster zone, interested visitors can rent snowshoes at Gasthof Wachter and follow a signposted circular route. Anyone choosing a holiday apartment in Gaal can thus choose between skiing, night skiing and a signposted snowshoe circular trail.

Cider from traditional varieties

Kühbrein Most is part of the local character. It stands for modern, high-quality cider made from traditional old apple varieties. With advance registration, visitors can take a look behind the scenes at Kühbrein Farm, experience the production process and taste ciders. This adds a culinary encounter with a regional product to an active or culture-focused holiday. If you value a combination of excursions and enjoyable discoveries when choosing your accommodation in Gaal, this visit can be specifically included in your plans.

For more travel ideas, you can also discover Weißkirchen In Steiermark, Preggraben and Bretstein.

For the higher-level travel overview: Murtal.