Lavant Valley Attractions Lavanttal

8km/5mi south of Bad St Leonhard, at Twimberg (604m/1,982ft), the Packstrasse branches off and leads through beautiful scenery up to the Packsattel (summit at the Vier Tore, 1,166m/3,826ft).

A good 10km/6mi south of the Obdacher Sattel (945m/3,101ft), in the upper Lavant valley, nestles the little town of Bad St Leonhard (721m/2,366ft), a resort and spa with a sulfurous spring, overshadowed by Burg Ehrenfels and the ruined Burg Leonhard. On a hill stands the beautiful Gothic church of St Leonard (14th-15th C.) with fine stained glass. In summer there are opportunities for walking (over 100km/60mi of marked paths), riding, playing tennis and mini-golf, and in winter there is skiing.

14km/9mi north of the Griffin Abbey, past the ruined castle of Haimburg, lies the mountain village of Diex, with its old fortified church; walls with battlement walks, towers and a strong gate made it impregnable. The village nestles at the foot of the Saualpe (2,081m/6,828ft).

The Premontstratensian abbey was dissolved in 1786. The abbey church, a Late Romanesque pillared basilica with a Baroque facade, is now the parish church. Opposite stands the smaller Old Parish Church (13th C.), with five Late Gothic wood reliefs (c. 1250) in the choir. Near the village of Griffin is an interesting stalactitic cave.

Twimberg lies on the Lavanttal highroad, which runs both east and west from here and then turns southwards in each case.

St Paul (378m/1,240ft; pop. 1,800), is a charming market town and summer resort. Three pilgrimage churches stand on the surrounding hills, and the mild climate favors fruit-growing.

This is a small museum dedicated to printing.

The chief place and economic center of the Lavanttal is the little industrial town of Wolfsberg (462m/1,516ft; pop. 29,000), popular as a summer and winter sports resort. The twin towered Romanesque parish church dates from the time when the town was part of the diocese of Bamberg (until 1759); note the Romanesque reliefs on a pillar in the main nave showing the Apostle Mark with the lions. The old episcopal castle, which had already undergone alteration in the 16th C., was rebuilt in Neo-Gothic style after passing into the hands of the Silesian Count von Henckel-Donnersmarck in 1846. Wolfsberg offers walks, riding and tennis as well as winter sports.