High and sacred

an Alpine pilgrim trail through Osttirol, South Tyrol and Upper Carinthia

The “Alpine Pilgrim Trail High and Sacred” covers 200 kilometres, split into nine day’s stages, and leads from Lavant via Innichen to Heiligenblut, whereas one place of religious significance is part of each stage. Next to the famous St. Mary’s pilgrimage sites Maria Luggau, Kalkstein in Innervillgraten, and Obermauern in Virgen, also regional gems like St. Korbinian in Assling or St. Oswald in Kartitsch will be visited. On average, each day’s stage comprises 20 kilometres length and more than 1,000 metres in altitude. The total walking time amounts to about 65 hours.

The pilgrimage

Anyone:r can set out on the path! I set out and sharpen my senses. My heart opens while walking and brings perception and mental state into harmony. So it goes over hill and dale, uphill and downhill. In the process I mature and come more and more to myself. When I arrive at my destination deeply satisfied and strengthened, I am richer than the one who set out; richer than the one who set out.

 

Those who go through life with alert senses and light luggage put being as a priority in place of having. Experiences in nature help to feel the spark of life in oneself. These experiences become possible by setting out on foot and perceiving and recognizing oneself in the living encounter with creation.

Offers to the mountain pilgrimage High and Holy

Book individual pilgrimage

Mobility services, pilgrimage guides, pilgrimage accommodations and pilgrimage walking in groups.

Etappe 5 - Marchkinkele in Villgraten
Offers and events

Pilgrimages and events on the mountain pilgrimage route

The stages of the mountain pilgrimage trail High and Holy

High and sacred – an Alpine pilgrim trail through East Tyrol, South Tyrol and Upper Carinthia

starting point:
Lavant
destination point:
Heiligenblut
highest point:
2654 m
total walking time
65 h
distance
194 km
🔋
altitude meters uphill
11200 hm
🞽
difficulty
average

Stage breakdown

The mountain pilgrimage trail Hoch und Heilig is divided into sections of different lengths, each of which runs between the villages with opportunities for food and overnight stays. Below you will find a detailed description of the nine stages!

High and sacred – Stage 01 from Lavant to St. Korbinian

starting point:
Wallfahrtskirche in Lavant,
destination point:
St. Korbinian
highest point:
1054 m
total walking time
6 h
distance
19.7 km
🔋
altitude meters uphill
989 hm
🞽
difficulty
average

High and sacred – Section 02 from St. Korbinian to Maria Luggau

starting point:
St. Korbinian
destination point:
Maria Luggau
highest point:
1877 m
total walking time
7 h
distance
19.2 km
🔋
altitude meters uphill
1713 hm
🞽
difficulty
average
state: open

High and sacred – Stage 03 from Maria Luggau to St. Oswald

starting point:
Maria Luggau
destination point:
St. Oswald
highest point:
2218 m
total walking time
7 h
distance
25.3 km
🔋
altitude meters uphill
1200 hm
🞽
difficulty
average

High and sacred – Stage 04 from St. Oswald to Innichen

starting point:
St. Oswald
destination point:
Innichen
highest point:
1397 m
total walking time
7 h
distance
24.2 km
🔋
altitude meters uphill
459 hm
🞽
difficulty
average

High and sacred – Stage 05 from Innichen to Kalkstein

starting point:
Innichen
destination point:
Kalkstein
highest point:
2526 m
total walking time
7 h
distance
14.5 km
🔋
altitude meters uphill
1422 hm
🞽
difficulty
average

High and sacred – Stage 06 from Kalkstein to St. Jakob im Defereggental

starting point:
Kalkstein
destination point:
St. Jakob im D.
highest point:
2502 m
total walking time
8 h
distance
20.4 km
🔋
altitude meters uphill
1170 hm
🞽
difficulty
average

High and sacred – Stage 07 from St. Jakob im Defereggental to Obermauern

starting point:
St. Jakob im D.
destination point:
Obermauern
highest point:
2620 m
total walking time
8 h
distance
20.2 km
🔋
altitude meters uphill
1742 hm
🞽
difficulty
average

High and sacred – Stage 08 from Obermauern to Kals

starting point:
Obermauern
destination point:
Kals
highest point:
2206 m
total walking time
9 h
distance
24.9 km
🔋
altitude meters uphill
1440 hm
🞽
difficulty
average

High and sacred – Stage 09 from Kals to Heiligenblut

starting point:
Kals
destination point:
Heiligenblut
highest point:
2654 m
total walking time
8 h
distance
22.5 km
🔋
altitude meters uphill
1411 hm
🞽
difficulty
average

Accommodation along the stages

The offer of the mountain pilgrimage path High and Holy also includes certified pilgrim accommodations. These are specially equipped for the needs of mountain pilgrims. Get a detailed overview of the accommodation options in East Tyrol.

Starting point: Accommodation options in Lavant

Destination stage 1: Accommodation Thal-Assling

Destination stage 2: Accommodation options in Maria Luggau

Contact point: Lesachtal Tourism Association

Tel: +43 4716 24212

E-Mail: info@lesachtal.com

Destination stage 3: accommodation Kartitsch and surroundings

Destination stage 4: accommodation options in San Candido

Contact point: San Candido Tourist Office

Tel: +39 0474 913149

e-mail: info@innichen.it

Destination stage 5: Accommodation options Innervillgraten

Contact point: Tourist information Innervillgraten

Tel: +43 50 212 340

E-Mail: innervillgraten@osttirol.com

Destination stage 6: Accommodation options in St. Jakob

Destination stage 7: accommodation options Virgen

Destination stage 8: Accommodation options in Kals

Destination stage 9 / End point: accommodation options in Heiligenblut

Contact point: Heiligenblut Tourist Office

Tel: +43 4824 270020

E-Mail: office@heiligenblut.at

Pilgrimage guides: Mountain and hiking guides

Egger Inge

Egger Inge

"When I'm in nature, everything is good!"

 

T. +43 664 547 701 1

inge.egger@gmx.at

Goldberger Johann

Goldberger Johann

Pilgrimage means for me: to allow myself a "time out". A time-out in which I pause, have time for myself, regenerate physically, mentally and spiritually, experience what does me good and give my life a new direction.


T. +43 664 462 745 9

johann.goldberger@gmail.com

Schwingshackl Hans

Schwingshackl Hans

"Engage in new paths and encounters".

 

T: +39 389 27 13 780

hans.schwingshackl@rolmail.net

Unterweger Edi

Unterweger Edmund

"In search of meaningfulness in one's own actions, free from time limitations, in harmony with nature, with spirituality and mindfulness, rediscovering oneself and new things."

 

T. +43 664 450 437 7

edi.unterweger59@gmail.com

Oberhauser Eva

"One sees well only with the heart. The essential is invisible to the eyes."
(Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)

 

T. +43 664 382 201 4

evi@wilux.at

Jäger Helmut

"Nature knows no standstill."

 

T. +43 650 416 228 2

helmut.jaeger@gmx.at

Petscharnig - Klimbacher Angelika

"GO-feel and then come back"

 

T: +43 664 6200611

petscharnig9560@gmx.at

Brunner Barbara

"Pilgrimage for me combines tranquility, simplicity and pausing with activity, looking out and variety."

 

T: +43 680 2080174

barbaraomshanti@gmail.com

Pilgrim's Booklet - Prologue:

The pilgrimage trail "High and Holy" combines long-distance hiking in alpine mountains with pilgrimage and spirituality. It addresses a deep longing of people today and invites them to hike inward over mountains and borders. Silent paths lead over mountain yokes to holy, strength-giving places.

This pilgrimage book may be a discovery aid for personal searching: to become free in the head, to become one with body and soul, to become open for the connections of meaning, to be on the way with alert senses for the wonder of creation and to taste the simple. We may trust that the life of us human beings finds fulfillment in the face of God. Pilgrimage and pilgrimage are an expression of a holistic search and life towards the decisive encounter with God, which is the way and
the goal for believers.

In addition, there are many useful additions and information on accommodations, transport connections and opening hours up to date. Already the planning and implementation of "High and Holy" was a joyful pilgrimage with many pilgrim companions.

Many thanks to all of them, especially to the volunteers of the pilgrimage team, who are also the authors of this pilgrimage booklet, to the staff of the "Bildungshaus Osttirol", to the project partner market town of San Candido, to all tourism associations, communities, deaneries and parishes. They were all a blessing that may have a far-reaching effect!

 

Bernhard Kranebitter, Dekan at Lienz

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Next
The farms
The farms
testify to a long history
The culinary
The culinary
convinces with handmade, regional products
The views
The views
testify to the great creative power
The way
The way
conveys beauty, gratitude & faith

The spiritual trilogy of pilgrimage

Spirituality is a deep inner experience that allows a person to come into harmony with himself and his environment; is the path to one's own inner peace and sense of happiness; is a source of strength that nourishes one's own joy in life and is a primal ground of being.

 

1. Setting out into life:

Setting out. On an unforgettable experience that leads me on foot along the mountain pilgrimage path through Osttirol. I walk along rushing streams and listen to the voice of the water. I cross quiet forests. I pass through unspoiled villages whose people welcome me. At time-honored churches I pause and listen to myself. While resting, I enjoy the sensual pleasures of local fare. An unexpected artistic highlight buries itself dazzlingly in my memories.

 

2. Celebrating life - being ON THE MOVE:

Falling in love with life! On foot along the Hoch & Heilig mountain pilgrimage path through Osttirol and it happened to me. A spiritually unforgettable experience. Across lonely alpine pastures and peaks, along wild streams, through untouched forests and original villages. With open eyes and ears, with awake senses. Looking, listening, outward and inward. The mere vacation experience turns into a spiritual experience, when the outer perception becomes an inner sensation that continues to resound in the soul. Step by step, in walking, I find myself.

 

3. To arrive in life:

Walking along the Hoch & Heilig mountain pilgrimage path, I experience a spiritual journey of discovery to the treasures of the Osttirol mountains and myself. Unexpected treasures along the way. Betania, the house of silence in the mountains. The Unterstalleralm with its decelerated rhythms of human life. The Villgrater Törl with its imposing mountain scenery. Unique moments.

More information

 

Timetable Heiligenblut - Lienz and Lienz - Lavant: www.vvt.at
Current weather situation in East Tyrol: Osttirol Wetter
Current trail conditions and information about trail closures: Contact the respective tourist information office
Booking: Book your tour online at https://www.bookyourtrail.com/trail/osttiroler-bergpilgerweg-hoch-und-heilig

Luggage transport: Possible when booking via the booking portal.

Information at: https://www.bookyourtrail.com/trail/osttiroler-bergpilgerweg-hoch-und-heilig
Best season: June - September

Bildungshaus Osttirol: As the project sponsor of the Hoch & Heilig mountain pilgrimage trail, the Bildungshaus Osttirol publishes important information about events related to the mountain pilgrimage trail on its website.

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