Several different themes can help shape your stay in Krakauschatten: a nature trail, the Krakau high-altitude hike, chapels and nearby Schattensee. The nature trail passes rare plants and shrubs on its way to the Alpine Garden, while the high-altitude hike leads to the lake via Holzerhütte and Woadschober. If you are looking for accommodation, you can first consider whether a botanically themed trail, a high-altitude hike or the lake should be the focus of your stay.

The nature trail: chapel, plants and Alpine Garden

The Krakauschatten nature trail starts at a car park near the Oberetrach Zitz bus stop. The route passes the Rote Kreuz Chapel and a rest area. It also leads past rare plants and shrubs to the Alpine Garden. This named trail therefore brings together religious cultural heritage, a place to rest and botanical interest. The Alpine Garden is the endpoint of the described route. This combination is a useful guide for anyone who would like to include both nature and a chapel in a hike.

Two hiking options, different points of reference

The Krakau high-altitude hike is clearly defined by its waypoints: it leads to Schattensee via Holzerhütte and Woadschober. Parking is available for this hike right in Krakauschatten. For the nature trail, the car park is near the Oberetrach Zitz bus stop. The routes therefore differ both in their described courses and in the points of reference at their starting locations. When choosing your itinerary for the day, you can decide whether to focus on the trail to the Alpine Garden, chapel and rest area, or the route with its named intermediate destinations and Schattensee as its endpoint.

Schattensee: nature and water target shooting

Schattensee is in the vicinity of Krakauschatten and is a moor lake. A circular trail and a tree calendar complement the opportunities for swimming and fishing. The lake’s offerings therefore range from a trail and nature-related features to activities in the water. If you are planning a visit, check access and conditions for the relevant season. The Fischerhütte at Schattensee is a snack station in Krakauschatten.

Water target shooting is also practised at Schattensee. A target stands on one side of the shore; from the opposite shore, it is shot at from a distance of 107 metres, aiming at its reflection in the water. This reflection is the specific target of the activity. Water target shooting fell into obscurity after the Second World War and was rediscovered in 1985 in the then municipality of Krakauschatten. The reflection and fixed shooting distance make this tradition a distinct feature alongside the lake’s nature and water-based offerings.

Chapels and a demonstration power plant

The Fortner Chapel in Krakauschatten is a chapel where Mass is held. It contains an unusual depiction of Saint Isidore in traditional rural dress. The chapel thus combines its liturgical function with a distinctive image. A technical attraction is the privately operated Krakauschatten small hydroelectric power plant: completed in 2016, it also serves as a demonstration power plant. These different highlights offer a cultural and a technical option for planning your stay, distinct from the hiking and lake themes.

Discover more destinations: Winklern bei Oberwölz, Schönberg-Lachtal, Sankt Georgen ob Murau, Predlitz-Turrach, Peterdorf, Mariahof, Katsch an der Mur, Sankt Lambrecht

For the overview of the wider region: Murau.