Archaeological traces and church architecture are central to Lavant’s history. A prominent landmark is the Lavanter Kirchbichl: it reaches an elevation of 810 metres, is surrounded by deep ravines on three sides and can only be accessed from the northeast. On the Kirchbichl, visitors can explore different layers of history—from Roman dwellings and early Christian remains to churches and museum exhibits from later periods.
Roman and Early Christian Traces
Two large Roman dwellings have been preserved under a protective roof on the Lavanter Kirchbichl. The hill’s archaeological history also includes the gate complex, which was built no earlier than between the 4th and 6th centuries AD. The dwellings and the gate complex offer different insights into how the Kirchbichl was used; their dates should not be conflated into a single period.
The early Christian history is also evident at several sites. Archaeological investigations beneath the parish and pilgrimage church of St. Ulrich uncovered an earlier early Christian church, which can be dated to the 5th century. To the west of the parish and pilgrimage church are the remains of an early Christian bishop’s church. Alongside the Roman evidence, these sites offer a distinct focus on Lavant’s early Christian history.
Church Architecture and Museum Highlights
St. Ulrich’s Church acquired its present appearance through extensive Baroque renovations around 1770. St. Peter and Paul’s Church offers a different architectural feature: some of its exterior walls are made from Roman marble blocks. Roman material can therefore be seen not only in the dwellings, but also in a church.
The exhibits at the Lavant Museum offer a cross-section of the Kirchbichl’s history. They span from the Bronze Age—including pottery dating to around 1600 BC—to the Gothic period. Examples from the 15th century include frescoes and architectural elements from the parish church of St. Ulrich. The Lavant Archaeological Exhibition Room is located at the foot of the Kirchbichl, in the lower level of the funeral hall. Visitors can explore the town’s history through both the remains on the Kirchbichl and museums with different areas of focus.
Forest Trail, Cross-Country Skiing and Cycling
The Lavant Forest Trail starts in the Wacht district and leads to the Frauenbach Waterfall. It first follows a wide gravel path, then a narrower, easy-to-walk trail to the waterfall. One possible restriction is important to bear in mind when planning your route: access may be limited to certain times because of military exercises. Check in advance whether the trail will be accessible at your planned time.
The five-kilometre “Lavant-Runde” cross-country ski trail offers a different way to get active. It has artificial snow cover and lighting along its entire length. The forest trail and the ski trail therefore differ not only in their purpose, but also in how you need to plan: for the forest trail, bear in mind the possible time restrictions on access; the ski trail is a cross-country route with lighting throughout. Nearby, the Drau Cycle Path also follows the banks of the Drau towards Carinthia.
Discover more destinations: Bichl, Assling, Iselsberg-Stronach, Erlsbach, Gaimberg, Bruggen, Thurn, Arnbach.
Return to the main travel overview: Lienz.
