Historic Gelpetal industrial history trail

INDUSTRIAL HISTORY OF THE GELPE VALLEY: HIKE WITH INSIGHTS INTO THE PAST

Following in the footsteps of an ancient craft guild

A stylised water wheel points the way. Where the Gelpe hammer mills and grinding workshops once dominated the landscape along the course of the stream, today you can hike along the “Historic Gelpetal Industrial History Trail”. And the best thing is – there are lots of information boards providing more information about the former cottages and hammer mills.

From Wasserhammer to Speckhämmerchen

Start at the picturesquely located Steffenshammer, the last working water hammer in the Gelpe valley. It still houses many testimonies to bygone industrial history to this day.

The trail continues past various historic hammers and cottages through the “Zillertal”, as the lower stretch of the river Gelpe is fondly known. Ronsdorfer Talsperre soon appears in the distance. Here, nature takes precedence. The reservoir is home to an endangered river crayfish and direct access to the water is blocked by a fence, but pausing and enjoying the view is definitely allowed.

The route then heads back to the Gelpe valley. On the way, you will come across the “Speckhämmerchen”, which is now a private residence. But that’s not all: The remains of several former mill operations also line the route.