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Gravel Bike
· Nassfeld-Pressegger See - Lesachtal - Weissensee
A Herculean Task | Gravel Loop Kötschach-Mauthen
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Die Karnischen Alpen - Eine Harmonie aus sanfen Almen und schroffen Felsformationen.Photo: Martin Hofmann, Kärnten
This ascent-focused gravel bike tour offers both athletic challenges and culinary delights, all wrapped around a metaphorical "corner." While it may sound paradoxical, it works perfectly in Kötschach-Mauthen, known as Carinthia's most delicious corner. Here, the combination of physical effort and gastronomic indulgence creates a truly rewarding experience.
Take Your Time! Gravel Biking and Culinary Delights in Kötschach-Mauthen
In Kötschach-Mauthen, the motto "Take your time!" applies equally to gravel biking and savoring the region's culinary treasures. Proudly known as Carinthia's most delicious corner, this area is the heart of the world's first Slow Food Travel Region. With a dedication to quality that rivals the persistence of the brave villagers in the Asterix comics, Kötschach-Mauthen offers a unique blend of athletic challenge and gastronomic indulgence.
The tour begins and ends at the award-winning Loncium Private Brewery, a fitting start for a journey through this culinary paradise. From here, the route leads past the organic farm where white Gailtaler Landmais is cultivated, climbing high on the southern side of the valley to several alpine pastures.
Crossing to the opposite side of the valley, the tour delves deep into history. On the Gurina Plateau, a settlement was established as early as 800 BC. A reconstructed burial field serves as a slightly eerie reminder of this ancient past. Later, the Romans arrived, building structures such as a Hercules Temple, which has also been reconstructed—complete with a somewhat unconventional and "sexy" depiction of Hercules.
The route then passes through the Geopark Visitor Center of the Carnic Alps in Dellach, before returning to the culinary haven of Kötschach-Mauthen. This tour is a perfect blend of physical effort, historical exploration, and indulgent enjoyment.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Safety information
Adequate fitness and technical skills are essential
Wear a helmet; check your bike before setting off (brakes, tyres, lights)
Check the GPX track in advance; check the weather forecast
On forest and gravel tracks, be prepared for oncoming traffic, walkers and wildlife
Adjust your speed to the terrain, especially when going downhill
Save emergency numbers; if in doubt, abort the ride
Respect nature: stay on the paths, leave no litter, observe quiet zones
Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints
Emergency number
112 European emergency number (accessible from all networks. Switch off your mobile phone and, after switching it back on, dial “112” instead of your PIN
Abandoned sites
Do not enter ruins or structures at risk of collapse
Tips and suggestions
Privatbrauerei Loncium
Slow Food Travel Alpe Adria Kärnten
Roadbook
The tour begins in Mauthen at the Loncium Brewery, where it fittingly ends with a refreshing conclusion. Starting with a few relaxed kilometers heading east across the Würmlach Fields, the route soon transitions into a steady, moderate climb of approximately 17 kilometers before reaching Weidenburg. Along the way, you'll pass the Bischofalm and Rosseralm, two renowned cheese pastures where a stop is highly recommended.
From the Rosseralm, the trail descends back to Weidenburg, then follows the valley floor eastward to Goderschach, where Lissi’s Farmer Ice Cream awaits as a sweet reward. If you'd prefer to shorten the detour for ice cream, you can cross the Gail River at Gundersheim and continue the tour westward.
To live up to the tour's name, the route climbs to Gurina near Dellach, home to the reconstructed Hercules Temple. Afterward, the journey winds through St. Daniel, returning to the Gail River, which you follow back to Mauthen for a well-deserved toast at the brewery.
Cheers!
Pre-dinosaur tetrapods: the first four-footed land animals
Museum 1915–1918 | GRAVEL.CARINTHIA
Mauthen, Wallfahrtskirche Maria Schnee
Mauthen centre
Mauthen, Pfarrkirche hl. Markus
Natural swimming pool
Brauerei Loncium | Soul Place GRAVEL.CARINTHIA
Weildegg
Untere Bischofalm
Stop 8
Rosserhütte
Schloss Weidenburg | GRAVEL.CARINTHIA
Schloss Weidenburg | GRAVEL.CARINTHIA
Dorfbrunnen Goderschach
Goderschach, Kapelle hl. Andreas
Hügelgräber Gurina | Lost Place GRAVEL.CARINTHIA
Herkulestempel Gurina | Soul Place GRAVEL.CARINTHIA
Gurina mit Jauken
Geopark
Via Iulia Augusta
Geo-Besucherzentrum in Dellach
Besucherzentrum GeoPark Karnische Alpen | GRAVEL.CARINTHIA
Pfarrkirche hl. Daniel
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
Arrival by Train and Bus:
Take the S-Bahn Line S4 to Hermagor. From there, transfer to Bus Line 200, which will take you directly to Kötschach-Mauthen, the starting point of your gravel bike adventure.
This route offers a convenient and scenic way to reach the heart of Carinthia's "most delicious corner."
Get Timetable to destination
Directions
Driving Directions to Loncium Brewery in Mauthen:
Take the B111 to Kötschach, then follow the B110 toward Mauthen. In the town center, before the turnoff to the Plöcken Pass, turn left and follow the road for approximately 150 meters to reach the Loncium Brewery.
This straightforward route leads you directly to the starting point of your tour.
Parking
Natural Swimming Pool: Waldbad MauthenCoordinates
Equipment
Gravel bike in good condition
Helmet
Clothing suitable for the weather (including a wind/rain jacket)
Plenty of water
Fully charged mobile phone
Small snacks (energy bars, a banana, etc.)
Spare inner tube or tubeless repair kit, pump, tools
Mobile phone with GPX track or other navigation device
Optional: small first-aid kit, some cash
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions