The Brandlucken, this "clearing" between the Sommeralm and St. Kathrein am Offenegg, traces its name back to slash-and-burn farming. In the 13th and 14th centuries, the need for land also led to settlements in higher areas, and until the 19th century, mainly grain was cultivated on the land thus gained.
Today the Brandlucken is a tourist center with the hotel facilities and the open-air stage. On the roofed stage, which holds more than 500 visitors, mainly comedies and folk comedy plays are performed in summer by the amateur actors of the "Huabn Theater". But also concerts and the Brandluckner Advent take place here.
The place of pilgrimage Heilbrunn dates back to the 17th century, when a cross was erected at a spring known to have healing properties. In 1642 the first chapel was built here by the owner of the Waxenegg estate, who was cured of his illness here. The place experienced its heyday between 1760 and 1784, when it was visited by about 665,000 pilgrims and 299 miracles were recorded in the "Miracle Books". Today's parish and pilgrimage church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary dates back to 1787 and is a so-called "Josephine hall church", which impresses with its simplicity and clarity. The high altar was made by the carpenter Josef Flausch and the painter Caspar Tendler. In front of the church there is a fountain chapel with a sculpture group of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary, the healing water is supposed to help especially with eye diseases.
Right next to the Heilbrunn pilgrimage church begins the children's icon pilgrimage route, the total of 9 stations were designed by children under the motto "from everyday life to heaven and back again". The first children's pilgrimage trail in Austria can be walked freely and is also interesting for adults. (pure walking time approx. 45 minutes).
The way is very well marked with blue "water drops" and can be therefore walked problem-free also from the Brandlucken (entrance between nature hotel Bauernhofer and the Kornreitherhaus).
At www.hbweg.at you can find the corresponding spiritual stories, the accompanying booklet is available free of charge at the innkeepers and in the parish church.
- We start at the pilgrimage church Heilbrunn, the path starts directly in front of the church.
- We go down to the right, past the GH Bratl and along the path with beautiful views.
- Passing beautiful farmsteads and some nice resting places we follow the "Wassertropfen" signs to the "Zieselhof".
- Now we turn right and walk along trail no. 761 or the markings up to the Brandlucken, which we reach at the open-air theater.
- We stop at one of the businesses on the Brandlucken or cross the square and change the side of the road at the Naturhotel Bauernhofer.
- The entrance to the path is next to the hotel or at the entrance to the hotel "Kornreitherhaus".
- We pass the Kornreitherhaus and the chapel and follow trail no. 745 through the forest to the clearing at the "Mautmini" chapel with the rest area.
- At the chapel we go down the path to the right and then across a pasture (attention: here you have to reckon with grazing cattle!) to the farm "Rochus in Nöstl".
- At the "Kirchenwirt" (the farm is no longer open) we reach the road again and are thus back at the starting point.