Holiday apartment in Gais: discover culture trails, castles and nature

Holiday apartment in Gais: culture trail and landscape

The Gais culture trail combines woodland, landscape views and artworks with references to local history. Along the Gais culture trail, artworks honour the minnesinger Oswald von Wolkenstein, the American poet Ezra Pound, his daughter Mary de Rachewiltz and the Bacher artists. As a result, the trail offers not only landscape views but also a literary and artistic dimension.

A themed hiking trail with distinctive views

The Gais culture trail is a themed hiking trail that begins at the entrance to the village of Gais, near the Gasthof Sonne inn, leads through the forest and continues to Neuhaus Castle. It is 2 kilometres long in total. At several points, it offers views of the unique Gais alluvial fan, the village with its Romanesque church and the hill opposite with the imposing Kehlburg ruins. Along the 2-kilometre route, there are several viewpoints between the village entrance, the forest and Neuhaus Castle.

Kehlburg and Uttenheimer Schlössl

Kehlburg was probably built at the beginning of the 12th century. Since a fire in 1944, it has increasingly fallen into disrepair. Uttenheimer Schlössl Castle, which has been left to decay since the 17th century, now consists of the surrounding wall, the largely collapsed three-storey palas, the Chapel of St Valentine and the keep. The ruins of Uttenheimer Schlössl are located in Uttenheim on a steeply descending rocky ridge and belong to the municipality of Gais.

Paths between the village, forest and art

The Waalweg trail in Gais begins at the parish church, crosses the Ahr bridge and continues between the houses in a north-easterly direction to the forest. From the Ahr bridge, the walking time is approximately 20 minutes. The Maurachweg trail passes the so-called “Ölberg”, which is characterised by a painting by Hartmann Polt. The Waalweg thus represents the connection between the village area and the forest, while the Maurachweg reflects the artistic association with the “Ölberg”.

Swimming lake, cycle path and protected landscape

Gais offers further specific destinations for days focused on swimming, cycling and nature. The “Baggalocke” Gais swimming lake is located near the cycle path and has a sunbathing lawn and a bar. The “Val Pusteria Cycle Path” also passes by the village of Gais. The Ahrauen biotope is a protected landscape that can be explored along the Ahr Erlebnisweg trail. The three destinations offer different highlights: water at the swimming lake, the cycle path through the village and the protected landscape along the Ahr Erlebnisweg trail.

Visiting hours for the Fireman's Helmet Museum

The Fireman's Helmet Museum can be visited daily throughout the year from 10 am to 6 pm by prior appointment. In addition to the culture trail and castles, the Fireman's Helmet Museum is therefore also subject to a fixed visiting period.

More places for planning your trip

If you would like to compare more places for planning your trip, you can find Prettau, Ahrntal, Terenten, Mühlen In Taufers, Rasen-Antholz, Innichen, Enneberg and Gsies here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Pustertal.