A spiritual and cultural-historical journey in the Gurktal – On the trail of the Lenten cloths
The starting point of the day tours accompanied by Roland Stadler is Gurk. From here, the route leads in all directions to the region’s historically interesting Lenten cloths. The Lenten cloths are among the special religious and cultural treasures. Once widespread throughout Europe, the majority of Lenten cloths have been lost over the course of time, but are uniquely preserved in Carinthia. The initially unadorned cloths became more and more artistically elaborate over the course of time. Due to its size, age (created in 1458) and the wealth of scenes, the Gurk Lenten cloth has a special status in the Alpine region. The fact that many Lenten cloths were lost for decades and have only been rediscovered in recent years makes the subject exciting not only for historians. After extensive restoration, they are now being put back on display and made accessible to the public.
Date:
The offer can be booked on request during Lent.
Services:
- 2 nights with half board in a double room at the JUFA Hotel Stift Gurk****
- Welcome drink, pilgrim backpack filled with regional delicacies
- Tour of the Pisweg and Gurk Lenten cloths with a visit to the Diocesan Museum
- Guided pilgrimage hike to Strasbourg (6 Lenten cloths) with Roland Stadler (Head of the Department for Tourism Pastoral Care)
Price:
from € 276,-
Program schedule
Day 1:
- Arrival in Gurk by 13.00
(arrival by train is also possible, we will be happy to organize a shuttle transfer) - Welcome JUFA-Hotel Stift Gurk
- Introduction “Lenten cloths in Carinthia”
- Trip to Pisweg and visit to the Lenten cloths of Pisweg
- Short hike from Pisweg to Gurk along the Hemmaweg (approx. 4 km)
- Dinner at the hotel
Day 2:
- Hike from Gurk to Strasbourg along the Hemmaweg (approx. 5 km)
- Visit to the Lieding series of Lenten cloths, the Church of the Holy Spirit and Maria Loreto and the Lenten cloths of Strasbourg’s St. Nicholas and St. Stephen parish churches.
- Lunch in Strasbourg (GH Seiser)
- Return journey to Gurk
- Guided tour of the Diocesan Museum and the Lenten Veil of Steuerberg
- Relaxation in the wellness area of the hotel
- Dinner at the hotel
Day 3:
- Holy Mass in Gurk Cathedral
- Return journey (also possible by train)
Pilgrim accompaniment:
Roland Stadler has been in charge of tourism pastoral care in the diocese of Gurk since 2002 and is active in the spiritual and theological mediation of church spaces and cultural assets, as well as a pilgrimage pastor. He has also been chairman of ARGE Pilgern in Kärnten since 2011 and is a certified mountain hiking guide.
Special notes
The two hikes from Pisweg to Gurk and from Gurk to Strasbourg are four to five kilometers each, all on field and forest paths. Good footwear (hiking boots) and walking sticks are an advantage. The Gurk Lenten cloth has just been completely restored and can be viewed outside of Lent in the Gurk treasury. As the Lenten cloths of Strasbourg are hung in different variations, there may be slight changes to the program.
