Welcome to the Nature and Cultural Heritage Site Burgbichl
Dive into 4 billion years of Earth’s history and experience the harmony of unique nature and archaeological discovery. Burgbichl unveils a late-Antique hillside settlement (c. 400–600 AD) nestled within a landscape of remarkable beauty － featuring the juniper forest, the dramatic Kesselwände (rock formations), and the Upper Drau European Protected Area.
Upper Drau European Protected Area
North of Burgbichl stretches the 68-kilometer-long Upper Drau European Protected Area. It encompasses Austria’s largest inner-Alpine grey alder floodplain forest. The area is home to 19 fish species － including huchen and sculpin － and over 140 bird species, making it an ecological treasure. In recent decades, large parts have been revitalized and secured as habitats for rare species.
Juniper Forest and Kesselwandbach
The juniper forest is a dry floodplain woodland with a unique vegetation mix: red pines, tree-form junipers, and orchids such as lady’s slipper and spotted orchid. Rare butterflies like the Duke of Burgundy find a home here. The Kesselwandbach, a chalk-alpine mountain stream, also supports strictly protected pioneer plant species.
Historical Development of the Nature and Cultural Heritage
The Kesselwände – 4 Billion Years of Earth’s History
The Kesselwände tell the story of Earth’s formation:
4.57 billion years ago: Formation of our planet.
570 million years ago: Formation of the ancient bedrock of the Kreuzeck Group.
200 million years ago: Creation of dolomites, limestones, and marls in the Meliata Ocean.
Shaped by glaciers and erosion, Burgbichl and the Kesselwände achieved their present form.
These bizarre rock formations, with their reddish-brown hues, are a natural monument of exceptional beauty.
The Late-Antique Settlement
At Burgbichl stood a fortified hillside settlement between 400 and 600 AD.
Built for protection during the turbulent Migration Period.
Strategically located at the crossroads of major routes: Drau Valley – Gailberg Pass – connections to Italy and the Alps.
Accessed through a northern gate and forecourt.
Housing and workshops arranged on terraces, frequently constructed from timber on stone foundations.
Craft activities included iron and non-ferrous metal smithing, as well as bone carving.
Agriculture took place in valley fields, with some livestock kept within the settlement itself.
Water Supply
A central challenge of the hillside settlement was the lack of a natural spring. The solution: a large cistern situated near the upper church.
Dimensions: 6.4 × 3.9 meters; depth: 2.8 meters → capacity approx. 70,000 liters.
Lined with waterproof opus signinum (a Roman waterproofing plaster).
Frequently renovated and polish-finished in red for hygiene.
Archaeological finds within the cistern － coins, fibulae, and pottery fragments － indicate trade links reaching as far as North Africa and the Aegean.
The Upper Church
Atop the Burgbichl, in the early 5th century, a Early Christian church was erected.
Cruciform floor plan with a semicircular apse facing east.
Interior included a presbytery for clergy and a vestibule for catechumens.
Decor featured marble, riven floors, and reused spolia.
The church remained in use until the settlement’s abandonment at the end of the 6th century.
Graves were located around the church, including a founder’s grave adjacent to the apse.
The Lower Church
A second large church (22 x 18 m) was built near the eastern enclosure wall.
Features: screed floors, stained glass windows, priest's bench (cathedra)
Conversion: Reliquary chapel with altar, marble reliquary and ivory box
Side chapel with foot washing basin, later used as a baptistery
Reference to the veneration of martyrs and relics
Significance of the Ostrogoths (493–536 AD), who had their own Arian church organisation
Irschen, village of nature and herbs
The herb village of Irschen, with around 2,000 inhabitants, is located on a sunny terrace 800 metres above sea level.
Sunny, mild climate – ideal conditions for herb cultivation and agriculture.
Known throughout Europe as the ‘herb village’ since the 1990s and recipient of multiple awards.
Sights: late Gothic churches, herb house, show gardens, waterfall, mills and alpine pastures.
History: first finds from the Neolithic Age (2600 BC), Bronze Age spearheads, later settlement by Romans around 300 AD, Slavs from 610 AD, Bavarians from 743 AD
Experience history in the open air
The Burgbichl themed trail takes you through the most important stages of the archaeological site – with information boards, panoramic views and original finds. Ideal for families, school groups and those interested in history.
Access: accessible all year round, free of charge
Tip: Sturdy shoes, allow approx. 45–60 minutes
Guided tours of the Burgbichl natural and cultural heritage site are offered regularly. Please contact us for dates and details.
Accessibility
The Burgbichl natural and cultural heritage site is exceptionally well developed:
By water: via the Drau canoe route
On foot: on the long-distance hiking trail (Way of St. James)
By bike: cycle path R1
By train: ÖBB connection, better connected than Karlsplatz in Vienna
By car or bus: direct connection via the Drautalstraße
Experience Burgbichl in 3D – directly on your smartphone
Get the free IRSCHEN app for iOS and Android and discover Burgbichl in a whole new way: with 3D technology, augmented reality and exciting additional content in German, English, Slovenian, Italian and Greek.
Once you're there, the app opens digital doors to the past – you can see historical reconstructions, interactive models and learn background information that you would otherwise miss.
Download it now and enjoy the full experience during your visit!
Free download:
Rules of conduct for visitors
In order to preserve this valuable heritage, we kindly ask you to observe the following:
Access only on foot and at your own risk
No bicycles or motor vehicles
Stay on the paths, alpine terrain – sturdy footwear required
Do not visit during storms or thunderstorms
Please keep dogs on a leash
No fires, no camping
Do not pick plants or cut branches
Do not leave any rubbish behind
No metal detectors
Learning and Media
Delve deeper into history: our Google Classroom offers in-depth information, teaching materials and exclusive insights for pupils, teachers and history enthusiasts.
The archaeological discoveries at Burgbichl have attracted a great deal of attention – in Carinthia, Austria and beyond.
Preserving history together
Burgbichl thrives on the commitment of the people who visit, explore and support it. Help preserve this unique cultural heritage – through donations, voluntary work or partnerships.
Privacy
The protection of personal data is of particular concern to us. We therefore process your data exclusively on the basis of the applicable legal provisions (GDPR, DSG, TKG, etc.) and take technical and organisational measures to ensure data security so that personal data is used properly and is not made accessible to unauthorised persons.
The employees of the municipality, its service providers (‘processors’) and their employees are obliged to maintain confidentiality and secrecy regarding the data provided by users of the website, unless there is a legally permissible reason for the transfer or disclosure of the data entrusted or made accessible.
In this privacy policy, we inform you about the most important aspects of data processing in connection with this website.
Contact with the community
For general enquiries or contact with the municipality, please use the contact details published on the homepage (menu item ‘Contact’ or ‘Imprint’).
General enquiries can be sent to the municipality online using the ‘General enquiry’ form, which is secure in terms of data protection. This online form can be found in the municipality's form collection.
For enquiries or submissions in accordance with § 13 AVG, please refer to the municipality's email policy. This describes the permissible options for submitting procedural applications to the municipality electronically. The email policy is published on the homepage under ‘Legal Notice’.For all questions and concerns regarding data protection (including this privacy policy), please contact the municipality's data protection officer directly:
Kärntner Gemeindebund (Carinthian Association of Municipalities)
Address: Gabelsbergerstraße 5/1, 9020 Klagenfurt am Wörthersee
Telephone: +43 463 55111207
Email: [email protected]
Collection and processing of personal data
We do not collect or process any personal data (e.g. names, addresses, telephone numbers or email addresses) via our homepage, unless you voluntarily provide us with such data (e.g. by registering for municipal services/applications such as a citizen portal, a citizen participation platform, an application for recording citizen reports, participating in surveys, contacting the municipality or registering for a newsletter, registering for events, etc.).
Purpose of collecting and processing personal data
We generally use the personal data you voluntarily provide to respond to your enquiries, process a registration, set up access
to certain information, or enable you to receive targeted electronic communications or carry out official procedures or other business relationships with the municipality (e.g. to submit citizen reports or applications).
For these purposes, it is necessary for us (or a third party on our behalf) to process and store your personal data. The collection and processing of personal data provided voluntarily is carried out exclusively in accordance with the provisions of Art. 6 GDPR. We would like to point out that you have the option of exercising your rights under the GDPR.
Your rights regarding the collection and processing of personal data
You have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict, transfer, withdraw consent to and object to the processing of your personal data. If you believe that the processing of your data violates data protection law or that your data protection rights have been violated in any other way, you have the option of lodging a complaint with the supervisory authority. In Austria, this is the Data Protection Authority.
The municipality provides a range of online forms on its website for convenient electronic applications in the context of official procedures, ordering municipal services, registering for municipal services and for other matters concerning the municipality. The use of these online forms and the associated electronic collection of the data required for the respective process – some of which is personal data – is voluntary and represents only one of several options for submitting applications to the municipality (such as submitting an application in person during the opening hours of the relevant department).
Please note that the data you enter in the online forms will be processed exclusively in accordance with the provisions of Art. 6 GDPR.
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If you do not want this, you can set your browser to inform you about the setting of cookies and you must agree to each individual case. You also have the option of completely deactivating the setting of cookies. However, deactivating cookies may restrict the functionality of our website.
Links to other homepages
This website contains links to other websites. The municipality is not responsible for the data protection policies or content of other websites.
Changes and adjustments to the privacy policy
In the course of the further development of the Internet and its services, and due to the use of new technical possibilities, it will be necessary to continuously adapt this privacy policy to the circumstances. Changes relating to technologies or services used that are relevant to data protection will be published on this page in good time.
Last amendment to the privacy policy on 10 August 2025
Imprint
Media owner: Municipality of Irschen
Publisher: Municipality of Irschen
Mayor: Manfred Dullnig
Contact persons: Manfred Dullnig, Martina LinzerMunicipality of Irschen
9773 IrschenTel: +43 4710 237713
Email: [email protected]DVR number: 0004774
UID number: ATU45641603
Municipality code: 20611The public internet service of the Irschen History Association Burgbichl Natural and Cultural Heritage is located at www.naku-burgbichl.at.
copyright
The layout and design of the entire website (including logos, photos, coats of arms, etc.) are protected by copyright. This also applies to the editorial content, which means that no changes may be made. Any further public use is only permitted with prior consent.
Disclaimer
The municipality of Irschen endeavours to provide accurate and complete information on this website at all times. However, no liability is accepted for the accuracy of the information provided. All information is provided without guarantee. Liability for damages resulting from the use of the published content or services is excluded.
External links
Die verlinkten Seitenwaren zum Zeitpunkt der Veröffentlichung frei von illegalen Inhalten. Für eine Änderung der Inhalte zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt wird keine Haftung übernommen. Die Gemeinde Irschen distanziert sich somit eindeutig von späteren Aktualisierungen der Inhalte von verlinkter Seiten. Links können durch die Gemeinde Irschen ohne Angabe von Gründen jederzeit gelöscht werden.
Care
The municipality of Irschen undertakes to adapt its e-government services to the relevant security standards and to do everything in its power to ensure the high availability of these internet services.
Accessibility
This website of the municipality of Irschen complies with the WAI AA standard (Web Accessibility Initiative) and therefore offers barrier-free access to all pages for all persons. For information and guidelines on electronic communication with the municipality of Irschen, please refer to the email policy.
External information is not the responsibility of the municipality. Nor does the municipality have any influence on the quality of external content.
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