Hundskirche and the religious memorial sites give Kreuzen two clearly distinct sides: a striking rock formation in the gorge between Kreuzen and Boden, and a picture made up of the Stations of the Cross, church and monuments. For planning your trip, the distinction is clear: the landscape formation, religious route and memorial markers offer different ways to explore local history. You can choose your focus based on what interests you most.
Hundskirche and the Stations of the Cross
Hundskirche is an upright, triangular dolomite rock in the gorge between Kreuzen and the village of Boden. Locally, it is also called the Altar. Both names refer to the same rock: the focus is a natural formation, not a structure. As a landscape feature, Hundskirche differs from the religious stations and monuments in Kreuzen.
Near Kreuzen Castle, a Stations of the Cross route with a total of 14 masonry stations leads from the road to the Chapel of St John. The stations are thought to have been built around the same time as the chapel, in 1716. The dating is therefore expressed cautiously, while the number and construction of the Stations of the Cross are stated precisely. In contrast to the natural rock formation of Hundskirche, the historical focus here is on the masonry stations and their destination at the chapel.
Memorial sites and local history
The Kreuzen War Memorial is located at the northern corner of the cemetery. The Anton Koperek Memorial commemorates something different: it was solemnly unveiled in front of the church in Kreuzen on 19 June 2022. The memorial commemorates former parish priest Anton Koperek, who served in Kreuzen for just under four years during the Nazi regime and strongly supported Polish forced labourers and young people. Thus, two different memorial sites stand side by side: the war memorial at the cemetery and a monument in front of the church commemorating a specific person and his commitment.
Church lime tree, village fountain and heritage protection
The church lime tree “In der Eben” is a majestic lime tree right by the church square, in front of the former primary school. It is thought to be at least 200 years old. Its exact location is specified, while its age remains an estimate and is not assigned to a single planting year. This combines a clear landmark in the village with a far-reaching, but only approximate, historical reference.
The village fountain in Kreuzen was built in 1972. Its exact year of construction offers a different point of reference from the estimated age of the lime tree or the Stations of the Cross, which are thought to have been built around the same time as the chapel in 1716. These different dates provide a brief overview of distinct historical layers without combining them into a single building history.
Heritage protection is also part of Kreuzen’s cultural profile: according to the Federal Monuments Authority’s register dated 19 June 2026, Kreuzen Castle at Kreuzen 32, the Catholic parish church of St Vitus and St Leonard, and the cemetery are protected monuments. The castle is not the only relevant site; the church and cemetery are also listed as protected places.
Discover more destinations: Fresach, Schloß Treffen, Ledenitzen, Feld Am See, Laastadt, Töplitsch, Oberfederaun, Arriach
To the main travel overview: Villach.
