Flattnitzer Höhe

Flattnitz Pass stands at 1,400 metres in the Austrian Alps, linking Glödnitz in the Gurk valley with Stadl on the Mur river. The pass is a scattered settlement with a sanatorium for clean mountain air and a small Alpine lake. Hikers and cross-country skiers visit in summer and winter alike. The pass may have been known in Roman times, first recorded in an 898 deed from Emperor Arnulf. Gurk bishops built a Romanesque chapel here in 1173, later replaced by a parish church with a hospice around 1330. The bishops used Flattnitz as a summer residence until Ottoman raiders destroyed the settlement in 1478. By the 17th century the area had become a mining centre for silver, iron ore and lead. The name comes from the Slovene word for moss, describing the damp highland landscape. The pass sits on the border between Carinthia and Styria, marking a historic route across the Alps. Visitors find open meadows, pine forests and the clear Flattnitzer See reflecting the surrounding peaks. The sanatorium’s buildings sit among gentler slopes, while steeper trails lead to ridges with wide views. The old hospice still stands near the church dedicated to St John the Baptist. In winter the pass becomes a quiet cross-country ski network under snow. The air remains cool even in summer, carrying the scent of alpine herbs.