Förolach-Geißrücken-Köstendorfer Alm-Windische Höhe Round (Public Transport)

WAYPOINTS: Förolach Station, forecourt-Förolach (church)-west Siebenbrunn, junction (No. 50)-Pilgrimage Church St. Steben (No. 56)-Geißrücken (Kugyweg, No. 229)-Köstendorfer Alm-Schwarzwald-Windische Höhe (Kugyweg, No. 229-Kramer (No. 12 and 1)-Matschiedl Naturgut Gailtalerhof (No. 1)-Rauterbauer (No. 3)-Water educational trail in Siebenbrunn (No. 7 and 23)-Junction Förolach (No. 50)-Förolach (church)-Görtschach im Gailtal-Förolach Station

DETAILED DESCRIPTION:  

1.  We leave the train stop (570 m), walk along Egger Straße (L 25) NW, after approx. 300 m pass the bike path junction and shortly afterwards at a fork turn left. Slightly uphill after approx. 300 m we cross the Gailtalstraße B 111 and visit the parish church of St. James the Elder. 

2.  Continuing north, we pass a fountain and after about 400 m reach the Siebenbrunn area. We are on the extension of the E 28A of the Julius Kugy Three-Country Trail and turn right, NE. Shortly after we ignore a left fork and take the next one, about 400 m. 

3.  The hiking signs lead us along a partially steep forest path to the small church complex: chapel, cross, and the filial church of St. Steben (a regional form of St. Stephen). The view is magnificent and invites you to linger (1st break, 2.2 km, 800 m | 2nd break, 2.7 km, 1008 m)

ALTERNATIVE 1: Walk slightly downhill along the access road to the Siebenbrunn area (to the Gattrer property) and then over the Rauterbauer to the Naturgut Gailtalerhof to wait for the group.

4.  On the next, approximately 500 m ascent path, partially steep and signposted, we hike uphill (through a forest area) to enjoy the western foothills of the Köstendorfer Alm. Here we encounter the Geißrück cross and the approx. 150 km long Gailtaler Höhenweg No. 229 and stage 28 of the Julius Kugy Three-Country Trail (3rd break, 3.5 km, 1280 m | 4th break, 4.1 km, 1530 m) 

5.  We turn right, east, after about 400 m find a drive, which we follow southeast – after about 400 m we reach the Georgi Chapel. After about 250 m we follow the GHW 229 at a fork slightly left and after a right curve meet a trail coming from the right. Shortly after, a forest road comes from the left – it leads into a junction (5th break, 6.6 km, 1500 m).

6.  The GHW crosses this path slightly left and shortly after turns right, southeast, and leads downward until it meets another forest road – we follow this approximately 1 km northeast/east. Towards the end of the Schwarzwald the forest road meets a trail coming from the left, which we follow with GHW 229 downwards – crossing roads four times – to Windische Höhe or the L 33. Near the Antoniusbrunnen we enjoy the 6th break, 9.7 km, 1105 m.

7.  Passing the alpine guesthouse Zum Enzian (or contacting a taxi or the Gailtalerhof in Matschiedl) we descend along the L 33, walk through the village of Pölland, and reach a large break at Gh Matschiedl/naturgut (7th, large break, 14.4 km, 870 m).

ALTERNATIVE 2: From the alpine guesthouse, walk about 100 m east (passing Gh „Zum Stefel“, GHW 229) and at a crossroads follow paths No. 1 and 12 to Matschiedl (extra: 1.4 km, 20 min).

8.  From Gailtalerhof (Naturgut) we head briefly right on road L 33 southwest, then past the dolorous chapel towards the Rauterbauer property. After about 800 m, shortly after a left curve, we take the shortcut half-right – we are in the village of Sussawitsch. We stay on the main path and after about 750 m reach the Gattrer property (8th break, 16.9 km, 744 m). 

9.  On this high plateau lies Siebenbrunn, where a particularly scenic water educational trail is located. We now walk west, skirting the northern area of Köstendorf. We stay on the path, pass two ponds, and enter a forest section. Shortly after we discover the fork where we hiked this morning to the filial church of St. Steben. We recall the return route via the village Förolach and the train station. (20.9 km, 570 m).