Along the Hydroelectric Power Trail along the Tiebel River

This themed trail was developed in collaboration with the internationally active company EFG Turbinen- und Kraftwerksanlagenbau GmbH & Co KG from Feldkirchen, and we’re featuring it right now with the release of the hiking guide—because good themes make a hiking trail both exciting and educational. A brochure (please request it at the tourist office!) clearly illustrates eight different turbines and impellers and describes their uses. The hike begins on Amthofgasse with a small Pelton impeller mounted on stone from 1985 (1). Just outside the city center stands the Kaplan vertical-axis turbine from 1939 (2, white), which served faithfully at the Wolfsberg power plant and has now found a new home in Buchscheiden near the TEWA company.

The tour continues to a large Pelton runner from 1970 (3), which is on display very close to the EFG company at the intersection of Obere Tiebelgasse and Schüttgasse.

A Francis vertical-shaft turbine from 1920 (4), most recently in use at the Benedictine Abbey in St. Paul in the Lavant Valley, can be viewed in the southern part of Tiebelpark.

We continue our walk through the northern part of Tiebelpark to the intersection of “Untere Tiebelgasse and Gurktaler Straße,” where a pump impeller from 1980 (5) is on display; it was once used at the KELAG power plant in the Möll Valley.

A true rarity can be found below the McDonald’s property, right on the bike path toward Haiden: an axial turbine from 1885 (6), which once supplied power to the Blaas Linen Factory in the Unterrain district. A little further along the bike path toward Haiden, at the rest area, you’ll find a Francis shaft turbine from 1925 (7).

And with the Francis impeller, built in 1904 (8, white), in Poitschach, this exciting circular hike comes to a close with a leisurely stop at the equally historic and excellent inn “Zum Stückler.” (3a) refers to a private power plant owned by Mr. Herbert Graier at the Färbermühle in the center of Feldkirchen, which has been in operation for 138 years and still supplies electricity to approximately 25 households today. Tours are available by appointment only.

Mr. Graier’s Demonstration Power Plant II, mentioned under (3b), was approved in the spring of 2025 and will be built at the site of the former “Ressmannmühle” on Obere Tiebelgasse. We hope you have fun and find plenty of energy as you discover all the historical traces of hydropower on this hike; in any case, we’re delighted to be the first to present this longer walk to our readers!