Gmöser Moor

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The Gmös moor bath in the municipality of Laakirchen (on the edge of the Salzkammergut ) is one of the few moors in the Alpine foothills of Upper Austria . It emerged from a dead ice hole after the Mindel Ice Age . In 1987 the Gmöser Moor with an area of ​​3.4 hectares was declared a nature reserve by the state of Upper Austria . Since then one can observe rare animal and plant species in a circular route.

Pond fed by the moor behind the Badhäusl

The nature reserve

Nature reserve Gmöser Moor.jpg

The Gmöser Moor formed on a moraine from the Minde Ice Age and is one of the few Alpine foothills in Upper Austria east of the Traun. A fen with a variety of animals and plants could develop here until human intervention. Through the cultivation of the bog (drainage, peat removal, field mowing, etc.), the almost 3.4 hectare Gmöser Moor presents itself today as a moor forest above a low moor, in which remains of typical flora and fauna could be found. Therefore, the Gmöser Moor was declared a nature reserve by ordinance in 1987. It is part of the Traun-Enns-Riedelland spatial unit of the state of Upper Austria, which serves as the basis for nature conservation work.

The original conditions in terms of morphology and vegetation are only left in remnants as a result of many small peat cuttings, but these peat puddles also increase the biological richness of the area. In accordance with the extensive lack of peat soils, quarry forests only occur in the form of small residual areas. The condition is so disturbed that the original vegetation conditions are no longer given and renaturation is practically no longer possible. The aim of nature conservation is to at least ensure the natural succession processes in these secondary moorland habitats.

The maintenance measures approved by the nature conservation authorities, such as the construction of water retention walls, the removal of dehydrating spruce trees and bushes and the careful annual mowing of the cleared areas are carried out on a voluntary basis by a committed group of Laakircheners around Horst Marterbauer, Franz Grillberger and Johann Wieser. The trees that have been uprooted naturally, as happened in large numbers by Storm Emma in 2008, are also useful for the humid habitat.
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the moor bath, which also meant 20 years of declaration as a nature reserve, they were awarded the Laakirchen environmental certificate , which was awarded for the first time .

Since 2006, Laakirchen's contribution to raising awareness of the goals of the Climate Alliance Austria has been a “moor expedition” for children under the guidance of Horst Marterbauer as part of the holiday pass, an offer by the city council for meaningful leisure activities during the summer holidays. The focus is on having fun while discovering animals and plants in a playful way. The formation of the moor is explained, the tracks of the inhabitants are read and small animals are identified with magnifying glasses. The knowledge acquired is put to the test in the “moor quiz”.

The fauna in the Gmöser Moor

The Gmöser Moor is a unique biotope in its region , which, due to its variety of small structures, can serve as a habitat and retreat for a large number of animals, a number of endangered and protected species. So you can find here z. B. amphibians such as yellow-bellied toads ( Bombina variageta ) - pronounced aquatic inhabitants - and reptiles such as grass snakes ( Natrix natrix ), which live with preference in damp forests, swamps and moors.

A large number of bird species are given optimal breeding conditions here and have been observed for years.

The field thrush ( Turdus pilaris ) are represented here with their only breeding colony in the entire area.

The reed warbler ( Acrocephalus palustris ) is not tied to the reed beds, but occurs mainly in the bushes. He is there in summer and winters in tropical Africa.

The whinchat ( Saxicola rubetra ) can be found in the surrounding meadows because it is a typical meadow bird that breeds on the ground. In the area of ​​the Gmöser Moor it has been observed brooding twice so far. The whinchat is also a summer visitor and winters in Central Africa.

The nuthatch ( Sitta europaea ) lives in the moor all year round. It breeds in caves and immediately catches the observer's eye due to its ability to climb tree trunks upside down.

The golden oriole ( Oriolus oriolus ) does not come to us as a summer guest until the end of April from Africa. In Gmös it breeds at irregular intervals and builds its nest well hidden high in the trees. The male is easy to recognize by its striking yellow and black plumage.

The kestrel ( Falco tinnunculus ) can often be seen standing in the open, shaking over a certain point and then pushing down with its wings on the prey, which is made up of mice and other small mammals.

Other bird species observed:

Breeding birds

Mallard ( Anas platyrhynchos ), Partridge ( Perdix perdix ), pheasant ( Phasianus colchicus ), quail ( Coturnix coturnix ), Teichralle ( Gallinula chloropus ), wood pigeon ( Columba palumbus ) Buntspecht ( Dendrocopos major ), Feldlerche ( Alauda arvensis ), Wren ( troglodytes troglodytes ), Robins ( Erithacus rubecula ) Hausrotschwanz ( Phoenicurus ochruros ), blackbird ( Turdus rustica ), thrush ( Turdus philomelos ), garden warbler ( Sylvia borin ) Mönchsgrasmücke ( Sylvia atricapilla ), Fitis ( Phylloscopus trochilus ) Zilpzalp ( Phylloscopus collybita ) firecrest ( Regulus ignicapillus ) Grauschnäpper ( Muscicapa striata ) Sumpfmeise ( Poecile palustris ), Blaumeise (Parus coeruleus), Tit ( Parus major ), tit ( Periparus ater ), treecreeper ( Certhia brachydactyla ), Star ( Sturnus vulgaris ), Eurasian jay ( Garrulus glandarius ), magpie ( Pica pica ), carrion crow ( Corvus corone ), tree sparrow ( Passer montanus ), house sparrow ( Passer domesticus ), chaffinch ( Fringilla coelebs ), greenling ( Carduelis chloris ), goldfinch ( Carduelis carduelis ), golden hammer ( Emberiza citrinella ) and reed hammer ( Emberiza schoeniclus ).

Migrants, former breeding birds and guests

Gray heron ( Ardea cinerea ), Weißstorch ( Ciconia ciconia ), teal ( Anas querquedula ), tufted ( Aythya fuligula ), Rotmilan ( Milvus milvus ), Harrier ( Circus cyaneus ), Sperber ( Accipiter nisus ), Habicht ( Accipiter gentilis ), Wespenbussard ( Pernis apivorus ), Buzzard ( Buteo buteo ), Hobby ( Falco subbuteo ) peewit ( Vanellus vanellus ), curlew ( Numenius arquata ), Green Sandpiper ( Tringa ochropus ), Woodcock ( Scolopax rusticola ), Bekassine ( Gallinago gallinago ), Türkentaube ( Streptopelia decaocto ), devil ( Cuculus canorus ), Waldohreule ( Asio otus ), Waldkauz ( Strix aluco ), swifts ( Apus apus ) Wiedehopf ( Upupa epops ), Grauspecht ( Picus canus ), Grünspecht ( Picus viridis ), Barn swallow ( Hirundo rustica ) , Mehlschwalbe ( Delichon urbicum ) Baumpieper ( Anthus trivialis ) Heckenbraunelle ( Prunella modularis ) Gartenrotschwanz ( Phoenicurus phoenicurus ) Steinschmätzer ( Oenanthe Oenanthe ) Redwing ( Turdus iliacus ) Misteldrossel ( Turdus viscivorus ) Schilfrohrsänger ( Acrocephalus schoenobaenus ) Seggenrohrsänger ( Acrocephalus paludicola ) Teichrohrsänger ( Acrocephalus scirpaceus ), yellow Mocker ( Hippolais icterina ) Klappergrasmücke ( Sylvia curruca ) whitethroat ( Sylvia communis ), wood warbler ( Phylloscopus sibilatrix ) , Trauerschnäpper ( Ficedula hypoleuca ) Collared ( Ficedula albicollis ) Haubenmeise ( Lophophanes cristatus ) Schwanzmeise ( aegithalos caudatus ) Neuntöter ( lanius collurio ), Dohle ( Corvus monedula ), Raven ( Corvus Corax ) Brambling ( Fringilla montifringilla ) Kernbeißer ( Coccothraustes coccothraustes ) Serin ( Serinus serinus ), Siskin ( Carduelis spinus ), Gimpel ( Pyrrhula pyrrhula ) Hänfling ( Carduelis cannabina ) Karmingimpel ( Carpodacus erythrinus ) and Fichtenkreuzschnabel ( Loxia curvirostra ).

The diverse biotope structures as well as the special climatic conditions that prevail in the moor result in a species-rich world of insects, which many birds use as a food source.

In the area of ​​the peat cut z. B. Observations of various types of dragonflies and a large number of mosquitoes can be recognized.

The flora in the Gmöser Moor

Common heather

The vegetation of this moor today is mainly characterized by moor forest with areas dominated by moor birch. The remains of a large number of plants typical of such moors thrive here. These include B. Moorbirke ( Betula pubescens ), heather ( Calluna vulgaris ), marsh hair strand ( Peucedanum palustre ) -bladed cotton grass ( Eriophorum vaginatum ) and meadows sedge ( Carex nigra ).

In the center as well as on the edge of the moor there are some peat cuttings. The older ones are covered in peat moss, while others catch the eye for their populations of duckweed, blood-eye and hedgehog cob.

Peat moss

Peat moss ( Sphagnum sp. ) Are excellent water reservoirs. They die at the bottom, where they stand in the water, and continue to grow at the top. Little by little, the dead pieces of moss below are pressed together more and more by the weight of the moss cover that continues to grow. Over the course of tens of thousands of years, if the natural and climatic conditions permit, more or less thick layers of peat can develop. In the Gmöser Moor, however, this peat camp is not very powerful, the peat mosses were unable to make the transition to the raised moor due to competitive pressure.

An extensive reed bed has developed on the pond within the moor .

The mud bath

History of the Gmös mud bath

Postcard mud bath Gmös anno.gif

Johann Vizithum, farmer in the neighboring village of Rahstorf, mined peat on his Gmöser swamp around 1900 in order to heat his threshing machine with the dried bricks . He, who had suffered from severe joint inflammation for years , experienced a significant improvement in his condition by standing barefoot in the moor. This prompted the establishment of the mud spa town Gmös in 1907. Since then is peat by hand stung and processed fresh daily. This is then returned to the moor after the treatment.

Moorbad Gmös celebrates its 100th anniversary

Exactly 100 years ago - at the time of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy , when the emperor went to the Czech Karlsbad ( Karlovy Vary ), Franzensbad ( Frantiskovy Lázně ) and Marienbad ( Mariánské Lázně ) for summer holidays - the foundation stone was also laid in a small town in the Upper Austrian Alpine Foreland laid for the establishment of a mud bath. In 1907, the former Cäcilienbad was launched and made Gmös a popular place for people from near and far, not just because of the successful inn.

If one compares the pictures from then and now - one would hardly recognize the sanatorium. The Cäcilienbad was renamed Moorbad Gmös, the rooms were adapted to the demands of the times and the treatment methods that contribute to the recovery of the patients were continuously improved and expanded.

The 100th anniversary took place on July 7, 2007. Surrounded by an artistic and musical program, the spa and guest house could be visited, the path of the moor - from piercing into the pack - could be followed and the nature reserve around the moor could be explored. Test massages and a culinary offer rounded off the festive program.

On August 11th, the Gmundner Festival Weeks were guests in Gmös for the first time. Peter Raab read in a matinee from Thomas Bernhard's Anger and Komik .

The cure in the Badhäusl

The traditional cure in Gmös is a combination of mud baths, partial mud packs and massages. This results in a synergy effect, which has a positive effect on the healing and soothing process. The mud bath and the mud pack in particular cleanse the acidic muscles and purify the body. In addition, the humic acid absorbed by the body calms the nerve endings and secondarily contributes to the relaxation of the smooth and striated muscles. Since no two molecules are the same in a humic substance preparation, it has been difficult to date to identify individual active components in the peloid . The anti-inflammatory effect of the humic acid contained in the peloid has also been proven due to the reduced breakdown of arachidonic acid.

Badhäusl

Massages

Massages specially tailored to the clinical picture contribute significantly to improving the muscular functional processes and thereby also mobilize the musculoskeletal system. Foot and ear reflex zone massages, as well as a special form of classic massage, are used to provide support. This effectively eliminates tension and acidity in the muscles, which can also be the cause of movement restrictions and pain.

The mud bath

The mud bath is made from moor water, which is extracted directly from the swamp and is rich in ingredients. In order to increase the thermal factor typical of the mud bath, in addition to other modes of action, the healing water is also mixed with moor earth.

The partial moor pack

Moor filled in completely permeable fleece bags is placed on diseased parts of the body. Depending on your tolerance, you will be partially or completely wrapped and subjected to a corresponding 50-minute detox procedure.

Healing indications

The cure is indicated for rheumatism , lumbago , sciatica , gout , signs of wear and tear on the joints and the spine , chronic joint inflammation, subsequent conditions after bone fractures and tension in the muscles .

Guest house

The guest house

The guest house is located in the immediate vicinity of the Badehäusl so that guests without the possibility of outpatient treatment can also enjoy the cure. Like the sanatorium, it is run as a family business, which is characterized by the fact that it also enables its guests - with a manageable number of a maximum of 16 guests - to receive individual care.

In 2002 the company became the setting for the episode "Suspicions" from the television series Schlosshotel Orth . The shooting in July 2002 for episode 8 of the 7th season took place under the working title "The Moorhühner".

chapel

Gmös devotional chapel

In March 1982, at the suggestion of spa guests, the construction of the Gmös devotional chapel began. On July 10th at 2 p.m., after only three months of construction, the inauguration ceremony took place as part of a mass held by the abbot of Lambach Monastery , Mr. Siebenhütter. The musical framework for the festival was created by the “Laakirchner Stubenmusi” and the “MGV Steyrermühl”. Numerous guests of honor attended the celebrations and in their speeches thanked the personal commitment of the Forstinger family, which had contributed significantly to the construction of the prayer chapel. The efforts of the “Committee for the Establishment of a House Chapel in Gmös”, consisting of long-term spa guests, were crowned with remarkable success with the completion of the chapel. The idea for the construction of the prayer house was based on the need of the spa guests for rest, contemplation, reflection and meditation , which could now be pursued in the middle of the moor area. The anniversary of the 75th anniversary of the spa business, which took place in the same year, was additionally enriched by the construction of this beautiful church. Since then, in addition to the treatment with mud and massages, the beauty and tranquility of nature and closeness to rural life, the sacred space has also contributed to the positive effect on body, mind and spirit in the Gmös mud bath. Since then, a May prayer has been held every year .

attachment

literature

Web links

Gmöser Moorteich.jpg
Commons : Moorbad Gmös  - album with pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Map of the eco-area in the digital Upper Austrian room information system
  2. ↑ Entry including the certificate of the nature reserve and the ecological area in the geographic nature conservation information system
  3. ↑ About the Traun-Enns-Riedelland, the "Land of the Quadrangles" on the homepage of the Province of Upper Austria
  4. ↑ a b c Gamerith, Helga (Ed.): P. 49 (a), p. 70 (b), p. 80 (c). Traun-Enns-Riedelland .
    Series Nature and Landscape / Models for Upper Austria, Vol. 38 (Linz 2007).
  5. ↑ Entry on the homepage of the municipality of Laakirchen
  6. ↑ Forstner, Martin: Laakirchner Nachrichten p. 16 (edition 2/2008)
  7. ↑ a b Climate Alliance Annual Report Laakirchen 2007, p. 15 (a), p. 6–7 (b)
  8. ↑ Entry on www.klimabuendnis.at
  9. ↑ Program overview on the homepage of the municipality of Laakirchen
  10. ↑ Publication of the European Spas Association 2007
  11. ↑ from the festival program 2007 ( Memento from September 28, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
  12. ↑ Hollensteiner, Björn: influence the cutaneous pain pressure waves through a whole body therapy Moor at 40 ° C . Dissertation, University of Münster (2004).
  13. ↑ Hübner, M .: Trends in the approval of peat medicinal products . Congress report on this lecture at Beer, André-Michael from the 2nd annual meeting of the working group for balneology, physiotherapy, rehabilitation and acupuncture in gynecology e. V. in the German Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics «Peat Therapy in Rehabilitation - Current State of Research» Bad Seebruch, 16. – 17. November 2001. pp. 45-47.
    In: Researching Complementary Medicine and Classical Naturopathy, Vol. 9 (Basel 2002). ( doi: 10.1159 / 000058077 )
  14. ↑ Forstinger, Konrad: Torf als Heilmittel ( Memento of the original from September 12, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Seminar paper, Danube University Krems (2014). @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / moorbad.gmoes.at
  15. ↑ broadcast recording of the episode
  16. ↑ Episode guide with broadcast dates from 2008 on www.fernsehserien.de
  17. ↑ Dates preview on the parish homepage

Coordinates: 47 ° 58 ′ 16.2 "  N , 13 ° 51 ′ 22.9"  E