Summer
The knowledge of the power of spots…
Today on most sacred places are Christian monuments like churches, convents, chapels or wayside shrines. Christians generally used spots that were already used by older cultures for special or sacred rituals. Convents and churches for example were often built on the foundations of Roman ruins. So the knowledge about powerful places has been continuously passed on and used for monuments.
SCHLÜSSELLOCH Keyhole
Old cultic spot with statue of the Virgin Mary and strong radiation; ice curtain in winter; legend of the ghost of Zimnitz. Enjoy the worthwhile stroll on the good forestry road along Zimmnitzbach brook. Pass Trefferwand face, an old cultic spot, to get to the rock alcove holding the statue of Virgin Mary, which is always decorated with flowers. The rock alcove is also referred to as Schlüsselloch (keyhole). The legend has it that decent persons can unlock the face. The face is the home of the Zimmnitz ghost, who watches over and protects the plants of life of all inhabitants of the Ischlerland area. This face is heavily sprinkled by water and in severe winters an ice curtain forms (ice chapel) which is also worthwhile. Because of the narrowness of Zimmnitz gorge strong radiation prevails. If you continue on the trail you pass waterfalls. The trail ends at the ice chapel, a cave that has been formed by avalanches from Zimmnitz Mountain. You need to have a good head for heights to continue to the chapel. The name Zimmnitz is of Slavic origin and is together with the Gawanz farm (old farm house in the Lindau area feat. a rare earth stable) the most western place of the Ischlland area with a Slavic name.
The HERMIT’S STONE
Half-way to Siriuskogel Mountain; boulder with fossilizations dating back to the Ice Age; a leftover of a time when the Ischl basin was still a high-alpine glacier landscape. When the Traungletscher glacier melted this boulder called “Hermit’s Stone” was left on Siriuskogel Mountain.
The ISCHL CALVARY
Mountain church built in line with geomancy; built on a water vein around 1704. It is after the Traunkirchen Calvary Church the second oldest mountain church of the Salzkammergut area.
2 CHAPELS IN ENGLEITEN
are located on special radiation points at the old Eisentraße road leading from St. Gilgen to Salzburg. Both chapels are located on the same water vein as the Ischl Calvary church. Follow the nice and shady Engleithen street through Kaltenbachau pastures to Lauffen. On the way you pass an imperial hunting statue. The road branching off Engleithen to Wildenstein castle is called the Römerstraße road.
MARIA im SCHATTEN Pilgrimage Church
Pilgrimage church with a 1.26m-high Gothic statue of Virgin Mary. The church is said to have been a venue of many miracles. The church was first mentioned around 1344. Already in 1275 Lauffen became a market municipality. Thanks to its location at the Wilde Lauffen rapids of the Traun River it became an important trading centre for salt and iron already in the High Middle Ages. Two boundary stones that are referred to as pest columns today, date back to this time. The boatmen used to call them “Gottsnam Stoa” and asked god for protection for their ride through the dangerous rapids there.
BERKKAPELLE CHAPEL in PERNECK
From the Ischl salt mine it is only a 15-minute walk to this chapel. It was built for the miners in 1747. A mass and mountain festival takes place there annually. From there 1,000 steps lead to Reinfalzalm pasture, where an iron mine was in operation to 1563. Reinfalzalm pasture is a beautiful spot on the way to Hoisenradalm pasture, where llamas and goats romp around, and also to the serviced Hütteneckalm hut from where one enjoys a famous view of Dachstein mountain.
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