The Vierbergeweg offers two distinct stage perspectives on Sankt Leonhard: the third stage leads to the pilgrimage church of St. Leonhard, while the fourth passes through the village and continues to the climb over the so-called Kulm. The certified long-distance hiking trail crosses four sacred mountains and an ancient cultural landscape. If you want to combine hiking and pilgrimage traditions on your trip, these route connections can help you place Sankt Leonhard as a specific section of the trail.
Pilgrimage Church Above the Glan Valley
The pilgrimage church of St. Leonhard stands on a prominent hill above the Glan Valley and is the destination of the third stage, which leads from the Herzogstuhl to St. Leonhard near Liebenfels. For planning purposes, this destination is more informative than a simple place name: the stage description explicitly connects the route with a pilgrimage church in a prominent position above the valley. The branch church of Sankt Leonhard is protected as a historic monument by ordinance; the Federal Monuments Authority lists this protection status in its 2026 register. Together, the church, its location, and its role as the route's destination provide a specific cultural and historical point of reference for your trip.
Two Stages, Different Route Connections
The fourth stage has a different focus. It passes through Sankt Leonhard before the climb over the so-called Kulm begins. This means that the village is the destination of the described hike on stage three, while on stage four it lies along the way to the subsequent climb. The Veitsberg can be seen on the onward route from Sankt Leonhard to the Kulmbauer. If you are choosing between the two sections, you can use this distinction as a guide: on the third stage, the pilgrimage church is at the end of the route; on the fourth, the route description includes passing through Sankt Leonhard and the subsequent climb up the Kulm. These route connections distinguish the sections without suggesting that they have the same order or character.
The Vierbergeweg and the Vierbergelauf
The Vierbergeweg largely follows the route of the traditional 52-kilometre Vierbergelauf. This centuries-old custom takes place every year on the so-called Dreinagelfreitag, the second Friday after Easter. Its date is therefore tied to Easter and does not fall on the same day every year. The route and the custom are connected by the theme of the four mountains, but they refer to different things: the Vierbergeweg is the certified long-distance hiking trail through the cultural landscape, while the Vierbergelauf is the traditional event held on a date that varies from year to year. When planning your trip, it is helpful to bear this distinction in mind, especially if you are interested in both the route and the traditional pilgrimage.
Getting There and Planning Your Accommodation
There is a railway connection in Liebenfels, two kilometres away. Check the current train timetable before you travel. To reach the fourth stage, you can take bus route 643 from St. Veit an der Glan station towards Glanegg BHF and get off at the St. Leonhardt bei Liebenfels stop. Here, too, it is advisable to check the current timetable, as transport details can change. These are two different travel options: the railway connection in Liebenfels and the described bus connection to the fourth stage.
If you are looking for a holiday apartment for a hiking trip, first decide which section will shape your stay: the third stage, with the pilgrimage church as its destination, or the fourth, which passes through Sankt Leonhard before continuing uphill. You can then plan your journey using the information for your chosen section and check the current connections.
Discover more destinations: Liebetig, Hochrindl-Kegel, Feldkirchen in Carinthia, Turracher Höhe, Agsdorf, Reichenau, Hochrindl, Sankt Urban.
Go to the main travel overview: Feldkirchen.
