Tamsweg between history and mountain scenery
Accommodation in Tamsweg
Tamsweg brings together local history, religious buildings and the landscape of the Lungau region. You can experience these themes at specific places during your stay: in the historic old town, at the Samson, at Kuenburg Castle and at St. Leonhard Church. Lake Prebersee offers a glimpse of the mountain scenery, while the BadeINSEL adds swimming pools, a sauna and a water slide to the mix. Culture, architectural history, nature and swimming facilities thus offer different points of focus when planning your trip.
Cultural history and buildings
The Lungauer Heimatmuseum offers historical walks through Tamsweg for groups of five or more, with online registration required. If you would like to plan such a walk, take the minimum group size and required registration into account.
The Tamsweg Samson is believed to be the oldest giant figure and has been documented since 1720. It is 6.20 metres tall and weighs 103.5 kilograms. These measurements give a sense of the figure’s size; the phrase “believed to be the oldest” explicitly marks its historical classification as a conjecture. The Tamsweg Preber shooting event at Lake Prebersee is another cultural landmark: in November 2025, it was officially added to Austria’s national inventory of intangible cultural heritage.
Kuenburg Castle combines early historical references with its present-day public use. The first mentions date back to the beginning of the 15th century. As a “place to meet,” the castle is open to the public; event availability may vary. If you are planning your visit around a particular event, confirm that it is available before you go.
St. Leonhard Church stands on a small hill above Tamsweg in the Lungau region. It is a Romanesque Catholic pilgrimage church and the only walled fortified church in the state of Salzburg above the MurtalstraĂźe. Its location, religious significance and fortified-church character offer different ways to place this building in the context of local history.
Old town, landscape and leisure
Lake Prebersee near Tamsweg lies at an altitude of around 1,500 metres, surrounded by unspoilt mountain scenery. Dark forests and lush alpine meadows surround the lake. Its elevation and landscape provide a natural point of interest alongside local and architectural history. The historic old town is also a distinctive stop on the Murradweg, linking the route with Tamsweg’s historic centre.
Another attraction in Tamsweg is the BadeINSEL. It includes indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a sauna area and a Black Hole water slide. Alongside cultural and scenic interests, visitors planning their trip can therefore choose from different leisure options, including dedicated swimming areas and a sauna.
Getting here by train
From Vienna, Graz or Klagenfurt, take Ă–BB trains to Unzmarkt. From there, the Murtalbahn continues to the district capital of Tamsweg. Plan for both train legs and check the timetables for your travel date before departure, so that the connection in Unzmarkt works with your journey.
Discover more destinations: Sankt Michael Im Lungau, Mauterndorf, Sankt Margarethen Im Lungau, Unternberg, Zederhaus, Thomatal, Muhr, Mariapfarr.
View the broader travel overview: Tamsweg District.
