St. Egyden can be explored through its church art, memorial sites and pilgrimage tradition. The former parish church, the new parish church and Kathreinkogel offer different points of reference for the village’s history. There are also memorials and religious traditions that provide a personal and communal perspective on the place.
Church Art and Architectural History
The former parish church of St. Egyden was first mentioned in a document in 1318. It features Romanesque elements and a Gothic choir; the Baroque high altar adds another art-historical highlight. Matthias Pauer signed the altar in 1757. These dates refer to different events: 1318 is the church’s first documented mention, while 1757 is the date the high altar was signed.
St. Egyden Parish Church was designed by Josef Tusch, who was born in St. Egyden. Its stained-glass windows were made by Anzolo Fuga of Murano. The names of the church’s designers are therefore part of its history, alongside its diverse stylistic features. Another landmark in the church’s history is the consecration of the new parish church of St. Aegidius: it was consecrated to St. Aegidius in 1973.
At Kathreinkogel, finds from the Early Christian period are on display in the House of Archaeology beside the church. These archaeological finds complement the village’s architectural and art-historical themes. If you would like to include the house in your plans, check the current visiting arrangements in advance.
Memorial Sites and Pilgrimage
On the south side of the church in St. Egyden is a memorial plaque to Pavle Kernjak, a Carinthian Slovene composer who lived in St. Egyden. The plaque was donated on the occasion of his 100th birthday and blessed on 18 September 1999. It connects a specific place with Kernjak’s life and his memory.
The Schütz Cross also tells a story of the village’s religious history: it replaced an earlier wayside shrine that had been a station on the procession route in St. Egyden. Other forms of communal tradition include Advent concerts by the church choir and the Corpus Christi procession. A church account from 2011 describes regular Advent concerts held since 1995. The annual procession to Humitz Church starts at the parish church in St. Egyden. If you would like to plan a trip around one of these events, check the concert dates or the exact date of the procession in advance.
The small Humitz mountain church nearby has been dedicated to the Virgin Mary as a pilgrimage church since 1660. Its pilgrimage tradition provides another religious point of reference alongside the procession. In St. Egyden, architectural landmarks, memorial sites and recurring church events all take centre stage.
Village Character and Getting Around
The village’s character also comes from its ancient farmhouses, which nestle against the southern slope in St. Egyden. This landscape offers a different way to experience the village than its church art and memorial sites. For a general driving guide, use Velden as your starting point: heading towards Ludmannsdorf, you will reach St. Egyden in about ten minutes. Below the church, turn right towards Treffen/Trebinja.
Another travel time relates to Kathreinkogel: from the Kreuzwirt car park, it is about a 30-minute walk to the summit plateau. The driving directions from Velden and this walking time refer to different parts of the journey and different modes of transport. When planning your trip, keep both the relevant starting point and the stated destination in mind.
More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Drobollach Am Faakersee, Ferndorf, Fresach, Wernberg, Kreuzen, Äußere Einöde, Innere Einöde, Goritschach
Back to the main travel overview: Villach.
