Knappenweg Trail
The Knappenweg trail invites you to immerse yourself in a mountain world that is both tranquil and majestic. Amidst Swiss stone pine forests, flowering mountain meadows and rugged peaks, an impressive landscape unfolds, appearing almost untouched in summer – with only the soft bleating of sheep breaking the silence. At the same time, the trail tells of an exciting past in the Wörgetal valley, where around 350 years ago up to 450 miners searched for valuable ores such as chalcopyrite, galena and pyrite at an altitude of around 2,500 metres.
A particular highlight along the route is the miners’ house by Lake Pochersee. The building, faithfully reconstructed in the 17th-century style, now serves as a small mining museum and vividly conveys the history of the former mining industry. The on-site audio guide is particularly recommended, as it brings the past to life and vividly recounts the stories of the miners, their work and their daily lives. This transforms the site into an immersive experience that makes history tangible.
The trail starts at the Dortmunder Hütte in Kühtai and leads past the Längental reservoir and the Mittergrathütte towards Hochötz. Along the way, you reach the Knappenhaus at the entrance to the Wörgetal valley by Lake Pochersee, where, alongside historical insights and visual material, the region’s mining history is vividly brought to life.