At the beginning of the Isel Valley there’s the enchanting village of St. Johann im Walde, a popular starting point for hikes
Image gallery: St. Johann im Walde
Altitude: 748 m a.s.l.
St. Johann im Walde lies in idyllic position in the Iseltal valley between Lienz and the turn-off to the Defereggen Valley. Part of the municipal area are St. Johann in the south of the Drau river, and Unterleibnig along the Felbertauern Road. The municipal coat of arms shows St. John the Baptist and a stylized branch that stands for the forest, as "im Walde" means "in the forest".
Above the village rise the farms of Oberleibing, Oblass, Öberst and Michlbach, that were once only accessible via funicular. Today, they can be reached on a road. Perfect for relaxing is Lake Falter, a bathing pond and hiking destination in the nearby hamlet of Huben. Among the lively traditions in the village itself there is the Iseltaler Ranggler Club, a country wrestling team. The "Ranggeln" is wide-spread in the alpine area - the athletes try to pull the adversary down on the shoulders.
If you are interested in culture, we warmly recommend a visit to the parish church. The oldest part is the baptistery from 1177 AD, in 1503 the 43 m high steeple was established. Several floods have damaged the church in the course of time. Also the four chapels of the village are worth to be visited and represent a beautiful destination for a pleasant walk: They are dedicated to St. Joseph, to Our Lady of the Snows, to the Trinity, and to the Seven Dolors of Mary.
