Sankt Leonhard: Pilgrimage Church and Vierbergeweg

Sankt Leonhard combines ecclesiastical cultural heritage with the route of the Vierbergeweg. The pilgrimage church of St. Leonhard is the destination of one stage, while another passes through the village. Situated above the Glan Valley and set within a cultural landscape dating back thousands of years, Sankt Leonhard offers concrete starting points for a trip that brings together landscapes, pilgrimage traditions and hiking. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus on the church, a stage of the long-distance hiking trail, or a combination of the two.

Ecclesiastical heritage above the Glan Valley

The pilgrimage church of St. Leonhard stands on a prominent rise above the Glan Valley and is the destination of the third stage of the Vierbergeweg. Heritage protection is also part of the village’s ecclesiastical character: the branch church of Sankt Leonhard is protected by ordinance. The rise gives the pilgrimage church a clear connection to the surrounding landscape, while heritage protection places its own emphasis on preserving the building. If you are interested in sacred sites, you can link this focus with the church’s role along the route.

The Vierbergeweg and the Vierbergelauf

The Vierbergeweg is a certified long-distance hiking trail that crosses four sacred mountains and passes through a cultural landscape dating back thousands of years. The third stage leads from the Herzogstuhl to St. Leonhard bei Liebenfels and ends at the pilgrimage church. The fourth stage passes through Sankt Leonhard before the climb over the so-called Kulm begins. Depending on the stage, the village is either the destination or a section of the route continuing towards Kulm. On the onward route from Sankt Leonhard to the Kulmbauer, the Veitsberg is visible.

For much of its length, the Vierbergeweg follows the route of the traditional 52-kilometre Vierbergelauf. This centuries-old custom takes place every year on the so-called Dreinagelfreitag, the second Friday after Easter. The two themes complement one another when planning a trip: the stage description helps you find your way along the hiking route, while Dreinagelfreitag provides a date in the calendar for experiencing the custom. If you would like to plan your trip around this annual date, check the date for your chosen year in advance.

Getting there and planning the stages

To reach the fourth stage, you can take bus route 643 from St. Veit an der Glan station towards Glanegg BHF and get off at the St. Leonhardt bei Liebenfels stop. Check the current timetable before travelling. There is a railway connection in Liebenfels, two kilometres away; here too, it is advisable to check the latest train connections. You should also check local conditions in advance before setting out on a hike. This will ensure your stage plans and travel arrangements match the day you actually intend to travel.

Plan a stay that suits you

When looking for a holiday apartment in Sankt Leonhard, use the experiences you have planned as a guide: are you mainly interested in the pilgrimage church, a stage of the Vierbergeweg, or the connection with the Vierbergelauf tradition? These priorities raise different questions for planning your day, such as which stage to choose or which day is best for arriving. Also consider whether you would like to travel by bus or train. The information about the stages, the church’s location and transport connections gives you concrete points of reference for shaping your stay around your own interests.

Discover more destinations: Glanegg, Hinterkoflach, Steuerberg, Poitschach, Reichenau, Stiegl, Rennweg, Simonhöhe.

Return to the main travel overview: Feldkirchen.