Garnet | My gemstone from Carinthia

Millstätter See. Bad Kleinkirchheim. Nockberge. Official tourist portal

My treasure from the Nock mountains

Even Noah is said to have used a garnet lantern to navigate his ark safely in the dark. Known as "Bohemian garnet", the ruby-coloured semi-precious stone adorned the heads of European nobility in the 19th century.

The Millstätter Alpe is also known in some places as the treasure mountain, as the largest garnet deposit in the Alps is hidden beneath the carpet of grass that covers the ridge to the north of Lake Millstätter See. The Garnet Gate, which was erected on the Millstätter Alm a few years ago, is an impressive reminder of this.

Das Granattor im Winter, umgeben von schneebedeckten Bergen und glitzernden Granatsteinen © Franz Gerdl_MBN Tourismus

Bohemian garnet
from Lake Millstätter See

Until 1914, garnet gemstone was also mined in the Lucknergraben, a gorge that stretches from the Millstätter Alpe towards Radenthein. The most magnificent pieces travelled to Bohemia, where they were skilfully cut and refined. Some of these precious stones returned and are still part of the cultural heritage today. They are often used as wedding jewellery.

Granatium Radenthein mit der ganzen Familie © Gert Perauer_Granatium Radenthein

The ruby-coloured garnet stones have also been incorporated into the traditional Radenthein costume, which has been passed down from generation to generation in many families.

The Granatium in the centre of Radenthein opened its doors in 2008. An interactive exhibition and guided tours through historic tunnels provide an insight into the world of the gemstone. A hammer and chisel await visitors in the mining area. You are expressly allowed to lend a hand here!

What does the garnet stone look like?

Garnet stone, often referred to simply as garnet, is a mineral that can occur in a range of colours, with the best known and most common colour being a deep, bright red. The garnet stones found around Lake Millstätter See are also a deep red colour. Lake Millstatt garnet is therefore often referred to as carbuncle stone. The crystal structure of garnets is typically spherical and they have a glass-like surface. If all sides of the stone are polished out of the mica schist, 12 facets appear. Garnets are known for their excellent hardness. This makes them durable and resistant gemstones.

Ursprungsform Millstätter See © Pavel Hanuska_MBN Tourismus

Silvery, shiny mica schist provides the first clue to the treasure of the Millstätter Alpe.

Granat Millstätter See © Steve Haider_MBN Tourismus

The Millstätter garnet shines ruby red after it has been polished by the garnet cutter in the Granatium.

Geschliffener Granat © Granatium Radenthein

The cut garnet has 12 facets and is still a popular gemstone today.

Garnet in culinary form

Around Lake Millstätter See, local producers - chefs, confectioners, cheesemakers, bakers, winegrowers and brewers - have been inspired by the bright ruby red colour of the garnet and have created delicious culinary specialities. A visit to the Lammersdorfer Alm is a great way to fortify yourself with garnet bread. In Radenthein you can try garnet ham. The products are popular souvenirs, but can be ordered online at any time - for example in the Kaslabn Radenthein online shop.

Granatpraline © Steve Haider_MBN Tourismus

Garnet praline

The garnet praline from butcher Emanuel Stadler comes in the shape of a gemstone. The reddish layer of dark chocolate conceals a rich flavour of raspberry and brandy.

Gartenrast Redtenbacher © Gartenrast Redtenbacher

Garnet beer

Brewer and Gartenrast owner Uli Bacher brews a semi-dark, very soft and drinkable country beer with low carbonation, which he has named Shilling Granatbier.

Garnet Gin

"Liquet", a distillery in the centre of Radenthein, produces garnet gin. Before the filtering process, the gin is brought into the Granatium tunnel for cooling and stored in glass vats.

My experiences
around the garnet stone

Eine Gruppe von Wanderern auf dem Weg zum Granattor, mit Granatsteinen entlang des Pfades © Franz Gerdl_MBN Tourismus

Garnet Gatemy hike with a view

Granatium Radenthein © Gert Perauer_Granatium Radenthein

GRANATIUM Radentheinmy garnet experience

Did you know? Interesting facts about the garnet stone

The best-known garnet stones are those that shine in various shades of red. The typical Millstätter See garnet also has a deep red colour. In addition to red garnet stones, green, yellow, orange, brown, black and colourless garnet stones have also been found around the world; only a blue garnet gemstone is not known.

Wind and weather shape the garnet into spheres, hundreds of which can be found on the alpine paths of the Millstätter Alpe. The lustre is lost over time. If the garnet is dug directly from the mica schist, the beauty of the stone can already be surmised in its raw state. A good opportunity to do this is provided by the Granatium Garnet Adventure World mining site. With a little skill and a whetstone, you can also make the facets of the gemstone shine yourself. It is even easier if the garnet cutter at the Granatium takes over the polishing of the gemstones.

The price of garnet varies greatly depending on its variety, purity and size. High-quality garnet stones can come close to the price of sapphires.

Genuine Bohemian garnet jewellery, marked by the antique seal ‘Bohemian Garnets’, continues to enjoy great popularity. Such pieces of jewellery, often set in silver or tombac (blue bronze), are prized not only for their beauty but also for their art-historical value.

The most expensive variety of garnet is demantoid. Its ‘diamond-like lustre’ and rare occurrence make it one of the most valuable gemstones in the world.

Garnet is generally classified as a precious stone. The term ‘semi-precious’ was previously used to describe gemstones that were considered less valuable than precious stones such as diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds. Garnet was often classified in this category. This distinction is considered outdated. Many so-called semi-precious stones, including garnet, can be quite valuable and sought-after depending on their quality, rarity and demand.

Garnet has been valued for centuries for its many positive properties. It is said not only to increase vitality and fill the wearer with new energy, but also to strengthen the survival instinct and willpower.

As a protective stone, garnet offers security when travelling and shields against negative energies.

Garnet is also said to have a beneficial effect on health: it is said to support regeneration and improve blood circulation. Emotional healing is another facet of its versatile powers: garnet is said to alleviate sadness and depression, release emotional blockages and increase joie de vivre.

In love and relationships, it is regarded as a symbol of passion and devotion that can deepen the bond between partners and intensify love.

These attributions, which are based on traditional beliefs and metaphysical views, are of course not scientifically proven.

Garnet The ruby-red gemstones for the emperor's crown

Bohemian garnet from Lake Millstätter See