Gaal is not only a household name for winter sports enthusiasts - hikers, nature lovers and classic car enthusiasts have also discovered the mountain community in a high valley on the southern edge of the Niedere Tauern. Gaal is characterised above all by agriculture and hunting as well as by its quiet location. Although Gaal is far from the motorway, the village is easily accessible from Knittelfeld and Seckau (10 km from the S36). The municipal area (the third largest in the whole of Styria) stretches from the settlement area in the valley, at an altitude of about 750 metres above sea level, to the peaks of the Niedere Tauern at 2,417 metres. The Gaal is an ideal local recreation area for the Aichfeld-Murboden region due to its many leisure activities and easy accessibility.
The Gaal is particularly popular with hikers and wonderful nature excursion destinations such as the Ingeringsee, the Lorettokapelle or the Krugsee invite you to take wonderful hikes. The Seckau Alps and the hikes over the 2,000 peaks are also special highlights. With the Gaal circular hiking trail, hiking enthusiasts can also experience wonderful natural spectacles in short stages.
In the Seckau Alps, more than 20 mountain peaks of over 2,000 m await you, offering unique panoramas of the Alpine region. You can best train your head for heights in the Alpine Park before the ascent. Well-kept walking and hiking trails lead to the popular excursion destination Ingeringsee. The name Gaal and most of the names of the mountains, streams and settlements are originally Slavic.
From the 6th to the 8th century, Slavic farmers from the Aichfeld had advanced into the Ingeringgraben and the Gaal. Whether they merely passed through this area or settled permanently can no longer be determined today, but they left behind a part of the name: An important document from the year 1174 speaks of the forest "Trigowle" - this contains the name "Gaal", which was used later. This is derived from the Old Slavic word "triglavja" and refers to a region leading to a mountain "Triglav" (Slovenia is enclosed by it). Reference is made to the appearance of the mountain: "Triglav" can be translated as "three-headed" or as "threefold" .
The place name Gaal was first used in 1171 in a document of the Seckau Abbey. Later, written evidence varied between Geul, Geil and Gall. However, it was the medieval rhyming chronicler Otacher from the village of Geul through whom the name of the village became known. Otacher is also the author of the "Steirische Reimchronik".
Natural spectacle
Gaal is a popular hiking area and there are numerous attractive destinations for nature lovers, including the Ingeringsee, the Lorettokapelle and the Krugsee. The Seckau Alps with their numerous peaks over 2,000 metres high also provide a breathtaking spectacle. The Gaal circular hiking trail enables hikers to experience the compelling natural spectacles in short stages. The Gaal is particularly popular with hiking enthusiasts and wonderful nature excursion destinations such as the Ingeringsee lake, the Lorettokapelle chapel or the Krugsee lake invite you to take wonderful hikes. The Seckau Alps and the numerous 2,000 peaks are also special highlights for hiking enthusiasts. Through the Gaal circular hiking trail, hikers can also experience wonderful natural spectacles in short stages.