Thomatal: Mountain Landscape, Customs and Historic Places

Thomatal combines gentle landscapes with unusually tangible history. The village lies between the hills of the Nock Mountains and blooming mountain meadows. Added to this are winter hikes along the Kremsbach, hiking and cycling tours around Thomatal-Schönfeld, and the Thomatal Georgiritt procession, for which the first written records of Georgi offerings date back to 1538. Families looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home can therefore choose between cultural discoveries, peaceful landscape experiences and active days in the Lungau region.

Mining History and Special Places

In Bundschuh, mining and smelting date back to the 16th century. A visible testimony to this mining history is the Stuckofen in the Thomatal district of Bundschuh, an industrial monument from the field of mining. The Josefshütte in Schönfeld also tells part of this story: It was originally used as a barn to store feed for the oxen used in ore mining. Since 2009, the rebuilt hut has stood here and now serves as a mountain church.

The Valentinum presents the historical estate of Pastor Valentin Pfeifenberger to the public. Admission is open and free of charge; the exhibits can be viewed from outside because no interior space is entered. This makes it suitable as a brief cultural stop that can be incorporated into the day's itinerary independently of a longer hike.

Castle Ruins, Church and Living Tradition

Edenfest Castle Ruins were first mentioned in documentary records in 1147. A visitor trail leads to the ruins; the Thomatal Tourist Association created it along the northern flank of the rocky hill in 1978. Those interested in historic sites will find a specific opportunity here to combine the history of the village with a hike.

The so-called “church tower grotto” is located in the pilgrimage church of St. George. It is the lower level of the church tower and has been equipped with seven memorial plaques in memory of Pastor Valentin Pfeifenberger since his death (1914–2004). The parish and pilgrimage church of St. George is a pilgrimage church for farmers and livestock breeders in the municipality of Thomatal in the Lungau region. Its furnishings include a well-preserved Mauracher organ from 1883 and a baptismal font consisting of an octagonal, curved white marble column with a white marble basin seated on top. Another special feature is the Holy Family, carved directly from living Swiss stone pines that still stand on site.

The Thomatal Georgiritt procession is particularly distinctive. It takes place every year on the Sunday after 23 April, St. George's Day. The farmers of Thomatal present “pig's trotters” as offerings and place them in a bowl beneath the statue of St. George in the pilgrimage church of St. George. The first written records of such Georgi offerings date back to 1538; Valentin Pfeifenberger revived the custom in modern times after it had later been forgotten. For your travel planning, this date is therefore a specific cultural reference point, not merely a general indication of regional traditions.

Winter Trails and Alpine Summer in Schönfeld

In winter, hikes along the meandering Kremsbach lead through snow-covered fields, forests and gentle hills. Those who prefer cross-country skiing will find 8 km of trails at the Schönfeld Rosanin high-altitude trail, for classic cross-country skiing and, in some sections, skating. The two options represent different day plans: one a hike through the landscape, the other a clearly defined trail offering two cross-country skiing styles.

Schönfeld lies at an altitude of 1,730 metres and is a starting point for hikes and trekking tours. In summer, Thomatal-Schönfeld is also a starting point for hikes and cycling tours in the mountainous Lungau region. Another hike starts in Gruben/Thomatal at the Kocherbauer farm; after about two hours of hiking, you reach the Franzenshütte. When choosing your accommodation, therefore, consider whether cultural destinations in the village, winter experiences or tours around Schönfeld should be the focus of your stay.

Practical Information for Your Stay

For everyday planning, there is a weekly shopping shuttle that must be booked in advance. It leaves Thomatal every Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.; the return journey from Tamsweg departs at around 11:00 a.m. This fixed connection is specific information for your stay and should be planned in advance if needed.

Thomatal thus offers several different travel ideas: historical traces in Bundschuh and at Edenfest Castle Ruins, church art and customs in the municipality, winter trails along the Kremsbach, as well as hiking, trekking and cycling tours around Schönfeld. Accommodation in Thomatal may be particularly appealing if you want to combine these themes and spend your days alternating between cultural activities, winter experiences and mountain sports.

Discover More Places

For further orientation, you can also visit the pages on Göriach, Tweng, St. Martin, Wölting, Mariapfarr, Schellgaden, Lessach and Unternberg.

To the overarching travel overview: Tamsweg.