Wörschachklamm

Useful Information

Location:	Wörschach. Signposted from the Bundesstraße at Wörschach. 10 minutes walk on Klammweg from the parking lot Wörschachklamm to the Klammstüberl. (47.559886, 14.148543)
Open:	MAY to OCT daily 8-18. [2022]
Fee:	Adults EUR 6, Children EUR 3.50, Annual entry EUR 15, Sommercard free. Groups (15+): Adults EUR 5.50, School Pupils EUR 3. [2022]
Classification:	Gorge
Light:	n/a
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided, D=90 min.
Photography:	Allowed. Best time around noon.
Accessibility:	no, steep wooden staircases with uneven steps
Bibliography:
Address:	Wildromantische Wörschachklamm, 8942 Wörschach, Tel: +43-676-87837334. Gemeindeamt Wörschach, Dr. Alfons Gorbach Platz 16, 8942 Wörschach, Tel: +43-3682-22301, Fax: +43-3682-22301-4. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1880	end of wood transports through the gorge.
1901	Gabriel Schally climbed through the gorge and started the construction of a wooden trail.
OCT-1902	trail to the Kuchl completed and opened to the public.
2021	trails renovated.

Description

The Wörschachklamm is located behind the town Wörschach. The water of the Wörschachbach (Wörschach brook) cuts deep into the mountainside. The result is a narrow gorge with vertical walls where the brook forms a white-water with many small waterfalls.

In former centuries the gorge was used to transport wood and charcoal from the mountainside into the valley. This was rather difficult because of the numerous turns, drops, and the big rocks in the gorge. It was necessary to use horses to pull the wood through some passages. At this time obviously some kind of trail must have existed, the bolts where it was attached can still be seen in the walls. Nevertheless, several accidents were the reason to stop this around 1880.

The modern trail was built for tourists, initiated by Gabriel Schally from Maitschern near Wörschach. The owner of a sawmill climbed through the gorge in 1901 and started the construction in the same year. The trail ended at a place called Kuchl, and was completed and inaugurated in the following year. The trail is built of wood, and partly destroyed by every flood, so it is necessary to rebuild it regularly. The gorge with its trails and explanatory signs was completely renovated in 2021.

The walk through the gorge takes about one hour. The trail is mostly very steep and requires good walking shoes and some surefootedness. The best time for photographers is around noon: as the gorge runs from the north to the south the sun shines into the gorge for almost two hours.