Sankt Jakob im Rosental lies nestled between the Karawanken mountain range and the Drau Reservoir. Forests are also part of the landscape. Themes for a stay range from hiking and cycling to activities on the water, churches and regional traditions. When planning your trip, it is therefore worth considering whether outdoor activities, culture or winter experiences should be the main focus.
Hiking trails, cycling route and Drau Reservoir
There are many well-marked hiking trails in St. Jakob im Rosental, including winter hiking trails. One specific connection for hikers is the Panoramaweg SĂĽdalpen access route: it leads from St. Jakob im Rosental along the L56 to Rosenbach. The Panoramaweg runs from Rosenbach to the KahlkogelhĂĽtte. This makes it possible to distinguish the trail section near Rosenbach from the longer route.
The Drau Cycle Path is 364 kilometres long and passes through St. Jakob im Rosental and idyllic floodplain landscapes. The Drau Cycle Path R1 also runs through the municipality and has been awarded a five-star quality rating. The Drau Reservoir near St. Jakob is about 12 kilometres long. You can surf and row on it. The two distances therefore describe different things: 364 kilometres refers to the cycle path, while about 12 kilometres refers to the reservoir. This makes it easy to distinguish the long-distance cycling route from the local waterscape.
Winter activities
Winter sports are also on offer. Biathlon is one of the main activities of the St. Jakob im Rosental training centre. The centre operates a ski lift and also has a cross-country ski trail. These activities complement the winter hiking trails and give the cold season its own distinctive character. Visitors planning a stay in the winter months can choose between hiking, cross-country skiing and biathlon, rather than viewing the different activities as a single offering.
Churches, pilgrimage and traditions
The Maria Elend Pilgrimage Church is a broad late-Gothic hall church dating from the second half of the 15th century and houses a Gothic winged altarpiece. Pilgrimage days take place every year, with 15 August, the Great Feast of the Assumption, particularly prominent. An hour’s walk south of the village of Maria Elend, two small chapels stand on a steep mountain slope beneath the rock face of the landslide. The older and smaller chapel was built in 1731, and the larger one in 1751. Below the mountain chapels is the healing spring, also called the Christusquelle, built over a spring believed to have healing properties.
The parish church of St. Jakob im Rosental tells a different story of its construction: it was rebuilt after the fire of 1972, while the late-Gothic choir was preserved. The church features murals by Valentin Oman dating from 1991. Local traditions can be experienced at numerous cultural events and at the weekly market in St. Jakob im Rosental. Together, the churches, pilgrimage and market provide a cultural focus clearly distinct from the cycling, hiking and winter themes.
Discover more destinations: Rosenbach, Petschnitzen, Ledenitzen, Sankt Andrä, Ferndorf, Paternion, Duel, Feld Am See
For the main travel overview: Villach.
