Kirchbach im Gailtal

Holiday memories to last a lifetime

Once upon a time … there was a holiday region full of stories! Kirchbach im Gailtal is a great place to learn about the area’s history and write your own holiday stories.

The community’s eventful past is omnipresent in the charming holiday region – whether it’s during a hike up to its magnifcient summits or during a leisurely village stroll. Ancient, picturesque roadside shrines, lovingly restored water mills, the country’s oldest farm … If you take a walk around Kirchbach with open eyes, you will discover cultural gems at every corner.

Besides history, nature plays the second leading part in the picturesque holiday region. Nestled between the Gailtal Alps and the Carnic Alps, the municipality of Kirchbach is one of Carinthia’s top addresses for outdoor sports and mountain leisure.

The best thing about it: Although Kirchbach offers everything from A like action to Z like zest for life, the laid-back community does not get crowded during peak season – thanks to the region’s sustainable tourism concepts.

What to see around Kirchbach

The best sights

Back to the past: An exploration of Kirchbach is a journey back in time. The Carinthian municipality is deeply rooted in tradition, radiating plenty of rustic charm. On the region’s mountain pastures, the farmers still produce cheese the traditional way, and the local cultural heritages give you an idea of how life used to be back when.

Don’t miss the following sights around Kirchbach:

St. Michael parish church
With its distinctive baroque bulbous spire, the five-storey tower of the impressive church in Grafendorf can be seen from afar.
Carinthia’s oldest dated farm
The exact proprietorship of the “MaroschHof“ (Gasthof Martin) in Tressdorf can be traced back for 600 years.
Thurnhof castle
The well-preserved castle was first mentioned in a document in 1364 and today is used as a guesthouse.

That’s what winter in Carinthia looks like

Kirchbach in winter

Winter holidays in Kirchbach are exactly the way you want them to be – quiet and relaxed if you’re looking for a getaway from the hustle and bustle, or action-fuelled and thrilling if you’re looking for adventures.

Even better: In Kirchbach im Gailtal, you don’t have to choose between the two! How about first swooshing down the region’s best slopes with your loved ones and then relaxing indoors with a hot drink and fantastic views of the glistening winter wonderland outside?

What else could you do before (or after or instead of) the relaxation? Take your pick! Glide along the Gail river on the Obergailtal panoramic cross-country run from Gundersheim to Waidegg.

Do some pirouettes at the ice rink of Kirchbach Sports Club in Oberdöbernitzen. Or explore the wide-spread network of groomed winter hiking trails between Grafendorf and Waidegg.

What about skiing and snowboarding? You can do that at Griminitzen ski resort with its attractive lift prices and family-friendly slopes. The ski resort’s easy slopes and charming T-bar lift are perfect for the little ones and first-timers. And once you have mastered those first turns, simply hop on the free shuttle bus to get to the more challenging and spacious slopes of the Sun Ski World – doesn’t that sound great?

A sight to behold

Kirchbach in summer

The picture-book summers of Kirchbach im Gailtal are almost too good to be true. Every day, a new adventure is waiting for you and you’ll be going home with a suitcase full of holiday memories.

The picturesque holiday region offers summer activities for every taste. Explore the splendid Carinthian nature from high above while paragliding. Go horse-back riding. Jump into the refreshing water of the Gail river or soak up the sun at the public swimming pool in Kirchbach. Or how about cruising along the family-friendly Gailtal Radweg R3 cycle route or tackling one of the region’s more challenging mountain bike trails?

If you’re into hiking, the region’s vast network of mountain trails between 600 and 2,300 metres altitude offer unrivalled views of the Carinthian summer landscape. For instance, explore the mountain world during a mill hike or herbal hike or follow your nose on the 30-kilometre, transnational cheese trail through the Carnic Alps.

And there’s more! Improve your handicap at the 18-hole golf course in Waidegg, have a barbecue at the natural playground along the Gail river, discover the water mills of Tressdorf … or be inspired by a thousand other great summer ideas in the Summer World!

Delicious Kirchbach

Cuisine & culture

Tradition meets modernity: The culinary delights of Kirchbach bring together different nations and generations. The famous Gailtaler Almkäse g.U. cheese is still produced the traditional way by the local farmers and the region’s mountain huts serve mouth-watering Gailtaler Speck g.g.A. bacon. At the same time, the region’s cuisine is also modern and open-minded.

During the harvest season, the people of Kirchbach celebrate one of the region’s most popular foodstuffs, with the annual apple festival revolving all around the delicious fruit. Whether it’s at the distillery, in the cider press or as part of one of the region’s delicious “Mehlspeisen” desserts – apples are the stars of the day!

The apple festival is just one of many local festivities during which you can experience the true taste of Kirchbach. Discover many more events in Carinthia and join the celebration!

You should spend your holiday in Kirchbach if …

… you want to experience the history of the Gailtal valley from up close.
… you want your cross-country skiing adventure do start right at your doorstep.
… you would like to explore Carinthia’s most fragrant treasures during a herbal hike.
… you don’t want to miss the traditional apple festival in Kirchbach.
… you would like to discover the origins of the mouth-watering Gailtaler Almkäses g.U. cheese.