This alpine village at the foot of Grossglockner mountain has a 15th-century Gothic church and serves as a starting point for high-altitude hikes in Hohe Tauern National Park.
At 1,300 meters above sea level in Carinthia, Heiligenblut sits at the base of Austria's highest mountain, the Grossglockner (3,798m). You'll spot the town's Gothic church spire piercing the sky, while mountain paths lead to ancient glaciers and abandoned gold mines. Take the Grossglockner High Alpine Road for mountain views, ski down 55 kilometers of slopes in winter, or follow the Alpe-Adria-Trail toward the Adriatic Sea in summer.
Getting to Heiligenblut
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road links Heiligenblut to Salzburg through 36 switchbacks and mountain passes. You'll see the Pasterze Glacier and alpine peaks along the way. Snow blocks the road from November to May, leaving access only from the Carinthian side during winter.
Winter Sports at Grossglockner Resort
Ski runs stretch from 1,300 to 2,902 meters altitude across 55 kilometers of marked slopes. Eleven lifts connect the different areas, and eight mountain huts serve hot meals and drinks. Advanced skiers can explore the 15-hectare freeride zone and five marked ski routes. Store your equipment at the valley station's ski depot or rent gear from shops in town.
Summer Hiking and Activities
Start the Alpe-Adria-Trail in Heiligenblut and follow it toward the Adriatic Sea. The National Park Hiking Taxi runs from 6:00 to 18:00 daily to various trailheads. At the Schareck cable car station, follow the Geotrail Tauernfenster path to learn about local rock formations through detailed information boards.
Historical Church of Saint Vincent
The Gothic pilgrimage church, built between 1460 and 1491, contains a late-Gothic winged altarpiece from 1520. In the church's crypt lies Briccius's tomb, central to many local stories. The church's needle-like spire against the mountains has become a widely recognized symbol of the Austrian Alps.
Gold Mining Heritage
Visit the reconstructed mining village in the Fleiss Valley to learn about the gold miners who worked here from the 14th to 18th centuries. Try panning for gold in the same streams where miners once searched. See original mining tools and watch demonstrations of traditional mining methods.
Natural Landmarks
Three waterfalls - the Möll, Gößnitz, and Leiter - cascade near the town. Walk around Lake Kachelsee's still waters, or visit the Margaritzen reservoir and Lake Sandersee. To see Austria's longest glacier, the Pasterze, take the road up to the Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Höhe viewpoint.
