Carinthia the land of lakes

This is the largest lake in Carinthia and one of the warmest in the Alps. The state capital of Klagenfurt am Wörthersee is located on its shores (with one of the largest inland lake resorts in Europe) and so are idyllic towns like Maria Wörth. The magnificent villas characterise the scenery and their gorgeous views of the lake have influenced the work of famous composers such as Brahms and Mahler. Fresh local fish such as ‘Kärntner Lax’n’ [trout] and wine from Carinthia taste especially good when they are enjoyed on the lake terraces right on the water. A visit to the traditional Werzer’s bathhouse is just the thing to get away from everyday cares. Active holiday makers can find their own paradise not only on and in Lake Wörthersee, but also on diverse cycle routes on either a road cycle, e-bike or mountain bike. There are also golf courses nearby. ‘Schiffswandern’ [a hike that begins with a boat ride] opens up new perspectives. One of the routes leads to the box seat of Lake Wörthersee, the Pyramidenkogel with the world’s highest wooden lookout tower. www.woerthersee.com  

With water that reaches up to 28 degrees in summer, Lake Klopeiner See is one of the warmest bathing lakes on the sunny south side of the Alps. With the „Aktiv Card Südkärnten“ there will be a range of attractive extras throughout the entire summer season. More than 40 activities will be available free of charge every day of the week.

If you would rather explore the gorgeous landscape on foot than bathe, you should stay in the ‘Sonnenwinkel’ region of Carinthia: the region’s highlights include Lake Klopeiner See and the Lavanttal and Rosental Valleys, as well as the Southern Alps panoramic trail and the Obir dripstone caves. A tip: visit the Karavankas geopark with its guided tours, such as one where you get to hunt for fossils in the Vellach riverbed.
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Swimming together in the lake in the morning, breakfasting on the terrace and then rowing off in a wooden boat – there are many secluded bays to discover on Lake Millstätter See. You can explore another romantic tour on the Lake Millstätter See high climb. The ‘Love trail. Sentiero dell’Amore’ begins at the Alexanderhütte: it features three inspiring hours and seven spots inviting hikers to pause. What is love? What gives it strength? Along the way are inconspicuous garnet stones, the fire stone of passion. The offerings of the destination are rounded out with the ‘Bivouac under the stars. Rifugio sotto le stelle.’, whose slogan is ‘Zeit zu zweit’ [‘time for two’]. The bivouacs take place on the beach where the waves of Lake Millstätter See touch the shore, amidst the lush greenery of a vineyard or high up on a fragrant alpine meadow. Lavish window arrangements allow you to consciously appreciate the twinkling stars in the sky and the sunrise in the morning.
www.millstaettersee.at

The luminous turquoise colour of the warm water creates a unique perspective of Lake Faaker See. As the southernmost lake in Austria with the most hours of sun, it is also affectionately known as the ‘sun lake’. A sunrise hike up the local mountain, the Mittagskogel, reveals the most beautiful view of the lake. A canoe tour through the belt of reeds, the so-called ‘everglades’, is another unforgettable lake adventure.
www.faakersee.at/

Along with its fame as the venue for the ‘Carinthian Summer’ music festival, Lake Ossiacher See is also known for its athletic offerings. You can participate in all kinds of water sports here; you’ll see both windsurfers and paragliders here because of the thermal lift and wind. The 27-kilometre cycle path around the lake is an excellent excursion idea for the whole family.

Hiking fans can also find a challenge at Lake Ossiacher See, or more precisely, on the Lake Ossiacher See trail. The Steindorfer waterfall, Bleistätter marsh and the Landskron castle ruins are among the highlights. The ravine path, which is also a part of the Alpe-Adria Trail that leads from the Grossglockner to the Adriatic Sea, also must not be missed. The most beautiful view of the lake is from the Peterlewand, where there is a small pavilion that is well suited for picnics.
www.ossiachersee.info/

The Lake Weissensee nature park is available for a holiday idyll secluded from the hustle and bustle. An ‘Alpine Pearls’ membership guarantees easy mobility, including trips on boats using environmentally friendly hybrid propulsion. There are various hiking routes around the lake, trails for fans of Nordic walking and mountain bike routes with views of the lake. A trip on the leisure raft along with a guided wildlife watching tour is an example of the activities available that provide a culinary and scenic feast for the senses. On this trip, you are served delicacies prepared from Lake Weissensee fish as you glide almost soundlessly over the lake. There are comfortable larch-wood seats and loungers located at selected spiritual and power sites around Lake Weissensee for relaxing, taking a break and enjoying yourself.
www.weissensee.com

With water reaching temperatures of up to 28 degrees, it is the ‘bathtub of the Gailtal Valley’. The first Carinthian adventure park on the lake is a chance for fun, especially for families. The path around the lake is perfect for a family hike or a run. The Nassfeld alpine plateau is also located in the region. It has a pram-accessible ‘Aqua Trail’ with fountains, mill wheels and streams, as well as adventure playgrounds with a ‘Fix & Foxi’ character theme and the ‘Flying Fox’ course.