Discover Krakauschatten: Nature, Trails, and Regional Highlights

Krakauschatten is a rewarding destination for anyone who wants to combine experiences in nature with distinctive regional stories. A nature trail, the Krakau high-altitude hiking trail, and nearby Schattensee Lake offer different options for planning your day. These are complemented by a chapel for Mass featuring an unusual depiction of Saint Isidore, a demonstration power plant, and the unique tradition of water-disc shooting.

Nature Trail with Chapel and Alpine Garden

The Krakauschatten nature trail begins at a car park near the Oberetrach Zitz bus stop. It leads past rare plants and shrubs to the Alpine Garden. The Red Cross Chapel, with a resting area, is located along the route. This allows the trail to combine nature observation, a cultural stop, and an opportunity to take a break, without requiring you to dedicate the entire day to a single activity.

For families who want to accommodate different interests, this combination offers an engaging way to experience the landscape: along the trail, visitors can discover plants and shrubs, while the chapel provides an additional regional connection. The Fortner Chapel in Krakauschatten is a chapel for Mass. It contains an unconventional depiction of Saint Isidore in peasant dress, whom the local population adopted as the “Styrian Lord God.”

High-Altitude Hiking and Schattensee Lake

The Krakau high-altitude hiking trail runs via the Holzerhütte and the Woadschober to Schattensee Lake. Car parks are available directly in Krakauschatten for this hike. The named stops provide the tour with clear orientation; they do not indicate anything about the route, duration, or difficulty, which should be considered separately when planning your own excursion.

Schattensee Lake, a moor lake with a circular trail, a tree calendar, and opportunities for swimming and fishing, is located near Krakauschatten. The Fischerhütte at Schattensee Lake is a snack station. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore consider whether you would prefer to focus on walks by the water, a longer high-altitude hike, or a combination of nature and cultural experiences.

Unusual Stories Connected with the Water

Water-disc shooting is practiced at Schattensee Lake. A target stands on one side of the shore and is reflected in the lake; from the opposite shore, it is shot at from a distance of 107 meters using its reflection as the target. The tradition fell into obscurity after the Second World War and was rediscovered in 1985 in the municipality of Krakauschatten at that time. This story makes Schattensee Lake not only a scenic destination but also a place with a distinctive local culture of remembrance.

Another attraction is the privately operated Krakauschatten small-scale power plant. It was completed in 2016 and also serves as a demonstration power plant. This expands the possible excursion program with a technical subject that differs from the chapels, hiking trails, and nature sites.

Krakauschatten as a Starting Point for Planning Your Holiday

When looking for accommodation in Krakauschatten, it is worth deciding on your planned holiday priorities first. The nature trail offers a route with a resting area, chapel, plants, and an Alpine Garden. The high-altitude hike focuses on the Holzerhütte, Woadschober, and Schattensee Lake, while the lake itself offers a circular trail, a tree calendar, swimming and fishing opportunities, and the Fischerhütte. A holiday apartment or holiday home can then be selected based on which of these documented experiences you would like to include in your travel plans. For additional destinations to compare within the region, you can also consider Peterdorf, Kaindorf-Süd, Scheifling, Niederwölz, Mariahof, Laßnitz bei Murau, Sankt Blasen and Teufenbach.

For the overarching travel overview: Murau.