One of the oldest pilgrimages in Austria leads over four holy mountains in Carinthia and takes place every year on the second Friday after Easter. The “Kroon” is the 50 -kilometer route this year.
The road on the Magdalensberg looks like a highway – so many lights shine shortly before midnight. On 1 May there are not only cars that make the road up.
The headlights of the thousands of hikers seem much brighter. Exactly at midnight on the Dreinagelag – the second Friday after Easter – your foot pilgrimage will start here on four mountains here, on the Magdalensberg. Anyone who ends the four of the four times three times is said to come to heaven
Up to 7000 people walk along
After the midnight mass it starts, shoes are strung, noses cleaned, water bottles filled. We continue through hiking trails, meadow paths and streets, believers, country -youthful, schools between the athletes. Society is shown: children, couples, seniors, friends, families, with or without dogs; Everyone is welcome at the four mounted run, which is no longer a pure religious event. Every year up to 7,000 people from Magdalensberg walk via the Ulrichs and Veitberg to Lorenziberg.
“I don’t know what the right way is,” says a walker in the descent. It doesn’t matter: it goes on to the masses, we can’t miss the direction and let ourselves go, it goes lively.
Around 1:30 am it is busy on the first break station – De Gasthof Fleißer am Zollfeld. Breaten are unpacked, bananas eaten, bladder plasters are distributed. The first beers go over the counter, at some tables with Schnapps. Those who were not in the forest stand here in front of the toilet.
With mountain leaves from mountain to mountain
The following obstacle: the Ulrichsberg! Done because of the steep climb by many four mounted runners, he is very stubborn today. The path pulls up, the lashes of fellow patients don’t make it any easier. But the snack – hard -cooked eggs, bread, cheese and ham – attracts and then tastes excellent. In the church, a wood ruins made of birch trunks around it.
One of the customs on the foot pilgrimage is to collect mountain leaves on the road, which is supposed to develop his protection at home: Bärlapp (“Krahfuaß”), by Ulrichsberg Ephe, by the Dantberg Fichte and the Lorenziberg -Juniper.
Vierberglay 2025: Half -time
If to reward the previous effort, the sun starts to open when we leave the Ulrichsberg. Accompanied by always louder twittering -birds, the nocturnal sky deep red, then orange, always yellow and becomes light blue. The surrounding fields steam, dew drops do the idyll almost kitschy out. Almost!
What the kitsch breaks happens in Zweirkirchen and St. Leonhard: the notorious liver roles are waiting for the well-humored volunteers brigade in Zweirkirchen and a little later at the Wech poultry surgery. A motivated pilgrim even says he had eaten four!
Of good luck and fulfilling wishes
Without the chimney of liver cheese, all the more motivated, we start the stage on the third mountain. The Voitsberg is very steep, but the sun shines from the cloudless sky and speaks to us. As fast as it gets hot on the paths and meadows while walking, it is so pleasantly cool in the forest. Along the trampfade, forget -m -m -m -not blue flashes between the rich green and on the last meadow for the Church branch, hard -working hikers. They are in the group in the meadow, Jausnen, Ratchet, admire the Panorama. We don’t take a break because we already hear the bell ringing.
The church that is located in the middle of the forest has been known for 500 years. Walking through the church three times with the clock brings happiness – and with so many who do it, this must be a particularly happy year this year. Everyone who calls the Soul Bells must also be fulfilled!
Rescue helicopter in use
According to the first information, there was a medical emergency. As confirmed by the directorate of the State Police, the C11 -rescue helicopter flew away. The helicopter had to carry out an assignment between Zweirkirchen and the Veitsberg (third mountain) near the Haidensee. More details are not yet known.
Our desire for a relatively symptom -free walk comes out. At the first Labst station after the Veitberg, we treat ourselves to a piece of intake and a piece of marble cake – a well -received reward. From there we are in no time on the last mountain, the Lorenziberg. Beyond yellow -white meadows, already mowed meadows, over small streams, beyond sheep, cows, horses, chickens.
Along the way, more and more children waiting for candy with their braided baskets.
Great feelings after the walk
Then, at 11.45 am, the “finish” heard: From a distance we heard the bell of the Lorenziberggkirche Rhinkel, then we finally saw it and shortly before 12 o’clock we are in front of it. About 50 kilometers are behind us. The walkers fall into each other’s arms and laughs at their success – regardless of what motivation they brought about the Magdalensberg, Ulrichsberg and Veitberg to the Lorenziberg; No matter how slow or fast they were and how many trade fairs and devotions they visited on the way; This old pilgrimage still contains the equally strong emotions, because it probably did more than 500 years ago.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
