If you are bored of relaxing by the sea or in the forest, you are always welcome mountains - majestic and unpredictable. Here you can have a great time both in winter and in summer. By the way, alpine ski resorts welcome guests even in the hot season. Visitors are provided with a wide choice of various entertainments, and the picturesque scenery of nature will not leave anyone indifferent.
1. Zell am See
A cozy resort town is located in the depths of the mountain range, at the foot of which there is a lake. The advantage of summer holidays in this place is the lack of an influx of ski and snowboard enthusiasts. You can splash in the waters of Lake Celsky, one of the cleanest in Europe, climb the top of the Schmittenhöhe mountain and admire the beauty of eternal ice. Outdoor enthusiasts will not be bored either. Here you can choose what you like: diving, fishing, golf, tennis, horse riding and much more. In the evening, the hospitable city of Zell am See offers everyone to plunge into the peculiarities of Austrian culture and entertainment.2. Saalbach-Hinterglemm
This is a resort for fans of extreme forms of entertainment. If you like hiking, specially laid routes will open all the beauty of the alpine slopes. Mountain bikers and freeriders can compete and demonstrate their talents and sports skills. Fans of outdoor activities can take a walk along the route laid along the suspension bridges, which are located near the crowns of trees. The rope park will not leave you indifferent. If the adrenaline level is not high enough for you, visit the Jump & Slide fan park, where you can jump on trampolines, climb a climbing wall, etc. When you get tired of wandering around the mountains and climbing trees, visit the outdoor pool, which offers plenty of water activities.
3. Bad Gastein
Bad Gastein is an old aristocratic town where you can relax at any time of the year. Here you can walk through the woods and mountains. Nearby is the crystal lake Gaishtan, where you can splash on hot days. The resort is notable for its radon springs and healing mineral water, as well as the knowledge and skills of local experts who advise everyone and provide professional assistance. Local residents are sure that outdoor recreation is an integral part of improving health and getting rid of diseases, therefore, in addition to hiking, you can spend time riding, cycling, playing golf, wandering around the old streets of the city.
If you are tired of the hustle and bustle of the metropolis, you are not attracted to places of large crowds of holidaymakers, take a look at the remote highlands. Resorts here are no worse, and the charge of positive energy, health and adrenaline is even better.
03.07.2017
Holidays in Austria in the summer
Summer in Austria - this is still an unusual and new phenomenon for us. Everyone perceives Austria, exclusively as a country for skiing, but in the summer there is something to do.
Summer in Austria You can relax brightly and richly:, in the mountains, go diving or moutenbiking; to visit Graz or Salzburg and many more interesting towns and villages. Engage in active sports and even fishing. If you do not like the sweltering heat, crowds of tourists on the beaches and in the water, then here you are - in summer Austria. The Austrians are obsessed with ecology and nature conservation. There are many national parks, waterfalls, rivers and lakes, with unspoilt nature.
Holidays on the lakes in Austria
In Austria, a huge number of the cleanest and most picturesque lakes, they are so clean that you can even drink water from them, imagine how cool it is to swim in drinking water?))
The southernmost and warmest lake region is Carinthiathere are more than 1200 lakes. Water warms up to 28 degrees, while a comfortable temperature reigns in the air without heat. Due to the fact that the Alps surround Carinthia, the climate is very mild and comfortable. Immediately on the border with the land of Salzburg is the highest mountain in Austria - with a huge glacier and (peak height 3796 m)
The warmest lake in Austria — , Carinthia
Temperatureup to + 28 ° С , at the same time it is also the purest water that can be drunk directly from the lake. It is very shallow off the coast, therefore it is ideal to relax with children here. The lake has one drawback, it is very small and in the high season there can be too many vacationers. There are tennis courts, a golf course, 3 surf schools, a diving school, and plenty of entertainment for children.
Lake WörtherseeWörthersee - the largest lake in Carinthia
The length of the lake is more than 17 kilometers. The water temperature here warms up to 27 degrees, the Mediterranean climate on the shores of the lake. Since the 19th century it has been one of the most elite resorts in Austria, it is called the Alpine Riviera, there is a casino, a golf course, tennis, and expensive restaurants. Here you can rent a yacht or an electric boat (diesel engines are prohibited). Water from the lake can be drunk. The largest and most charming city on the lake - VeldenThis is an ideal place for lovers of both glamorous and outdoor activities.
Lake Weisensee (Weißensee)
Although it is not the warmest lake (up to + 24 ° С in summer), it’s the most pristine lake, for which it received the “European Environment and Tourism Award” award. Weissensee is considered one of the most picturesque alpine (930 m above sea level) European lakes with unspoiled nature. The lake is framed by the deep green color of coniferous forests and against their background the piercing turquoise water seems even brighter. Weiss in German is white, White Lake due to the chalk deposits in the coastline, precisely because of the reason why the lake has such unreal beauty of water.
The transparency of the water reaches 30 meters, and the depth of the lake is 99 meters, which is why this place is considered ideal for divers and divers. There are no highways around the lake, and 2/3 of the coast is a protected area of \u200b\u200ba natural park.
Salzkammergut (Salzkammergut) - summer holidays in Austria
The second most important lake region is Salzkammergut (Salzkammergut),it is located in three federal states: Upper Austria, Styriaand Salzburg. The Salzkammergut is translated as “Storehouse of Salt,” in the salt mines of the Salzkammergut salt production began in the second century BC.
Hallstatt
On the shore of the lake is the town of the same name, Hallstatt, with the world's oldest salt mine. The town and the lake are so picturesque that the Chinese even reproduced in their province of Guangdong a full copy of Gallstatt. A picturesque road leads to the city, which ends with a tunnel carved into the mountain. And the city opens its view only at the very end. This region is protected by UNESCO. The water temperature in the lake rises to 24 degrees in the summer. On the outskirts of the town is equipped with a beautiful beach with children's slides, swings and an artificial island. The lake is located in the ground Salzburg.
Mondsee Lake (Mondsee)
The warmest lake in the Salzkammergut is the lake MondseeIn summer, the water temperature warms up to 26 degrees. Around the lake there are more than 100 km of hiking trails through the most picturesque regions of the Salzkammergut.
Here is the largest center for surfing and sailing in the whole of Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Of course there are, golf, tennis, cycling routes. It is a paradise for fishermen. The lake is 10 kilometers long. The lake is located on the border Upper Austria and Salzburg and is protected by UNESCO.
Lake Traunsee (Traunsee)
Traunsee (Salzburg Land) - a picturesque lake with an old castle Ort (Schloss Ort) on the island, it was built in the 12th century, now a picturesque wooden bridge leads to it. The castle entrance is through the clock tower, then you find yourself in a cozy, well-kept courtyard of the castle. On the other side of the bridge, a gorgeous view of the main town of the lake - Gmunden (Gmunden),cozy, with classic Austrian houses and a church. The city is famous for its ceramic and earthenware products, even the hands on the clock of the city hall are made of faience in the 18th century. Hand swans and ducks are found in the lake, they boldly swim in the clear water for tourists and require refreshments))) The water temperature in August can rise to 22 degrees, a depth of 191 meters!
You can ride a wheeled boat on Traunsee, it was launched in 1871, and you can look at the lake from above by climbing the mountains by cable car.
Active recreation in Austria.
Paragliders, surfing, golf, caving, mountain climbing, rafting on mountain rivers, hiking and cycling routes, green tourism, yachting, hiking on glaciers, panoramic roads, skiing (yes, and in August) - this is all summer in Austria. Diving, and even it is here, in the clear and warm waters of the lakes of Carinthia and the Salzkammergut, you can dive, explore and get a PADY certificate.
In the summer in Austria there is everything and a little more. If you want peace and quiet, then you thermal complexes(about them a bit later), and if you want Adventures, then you will definitely get them)))) Let's start with walking and cycling routes
Pedestrian (trekking) and cycle routes in Austria
Trekking routes are located throughout Austria, more than 15,000 km of marked, well-groomed, and most importantly safe routes. These are separate paths laid with gravel or asphalt; they rarely intersect with roads. Here you can enjoy the silence, beauty and unforgettable panoramas of Austria and the Alps.
The most picturesque of them are in national parks or ski resorts, they ski there in the winter, and in the summer they go or ride. Using the working summer lifts you can climb high into the mountains without much effort, but then everything depends on your preparedness.
Tall Tauern (Nationalpark Hohe Tauern)
Austria's largest national park hohe Tauern Nature Reserve (Hohe Tauern) there are more than 260 peaks of three thousandths in the park. It is the highest mountain range in Austria. Here is the highest mountain in Austria - there is a walking route to its top (it is recommended to go with an instructor). There is also the most spectacular panoramic road on.
And many cycling and hiking routes: for example to Krimmlsky (Krimml) waterfall or around the picturesque lake and ski resort
The best route for cyclists
The classic cycling route (also pedestrian) from "from Passau to Vienna" goes along a picturesque valley Wachau (Wachau)
, past the picturesque loop of the bend of the Danube, where castles are located on high banks, and apricot orchards are in the valleys. Dodina Wachau is under the protection of UNESCO, it is a very beautiful, untouched place, you will get real pleasure from traveling around these parts.
Alpine-Adriatic road
The route that can lead you from Austria to Italy through Slovenia is the Alpine-Adriatic road. The length of the route is 700 km, it is divided into segments of 20 km, and is designed even for inexperienced travelers, the height differences are small, where you will definitely find an overnight stay on the way. The route starts again at the foot of the mountain. Grossglockner and ends in the Italian city of Trieste on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, the entire road has a special marking, so it is almost impossible to get off the route. But the road crosses the most beautiful valleys, turbulent rivers and lakes.
Campsites in Austria
In the summer, it seems that everyone has moved out of their city apartments, removed their car campers from the garages, and drove around the Alps. In Austria, in fact, there is no such thing as a summer house, and if someone from the city wants to relax in nature, they are selected in campsites. Campsites have their own stardom, like hotels. Campings with a large number of stars have pools, restaurants, saunas, animators for children and other amenities of hotel life. If there are two or three stars, then there will simply be a lawn for a car camper or tent and severe showers with toilets.
Camping in Austria prices
Several accommodation options are possible, all of them are much cheaper than accommodation in guesthouses or hotels in the Alps.
- Tents: from 6 euros per place plus from 2 euros per person
- Auto camper: from 20 euros
- Bungalow, wagon with kitchen and shower: from 40 euros
Campings are scattered throughout Austria, you can stop in cities and even in national parks. Many of them are located on the shores of lakes.
SPA and thermal baths in summer in Austria
A separate and rich topic is relaxation in thermal spas.If you have already walked around the mountains and lakes of Austria, it's time to relax in thermal complexes. There are a great many of them in Austria: both near Vienna and in the Alps, and in ski resorts. There is a whole cult of thermal and spa relaxation, the Austrians even buy annual subscription to the baths.
Travels in Austrian National Parks
In Austria, vast territories are given over to National Parks, nature is really protected and protected here, in many ponds only electric transport is allowed, cars are forbidden to park near ponds, of course you can’t even talk about deforestation. National parks are an ideal place for families with children.
Therefore, water here can be drunk directly from rivers and lakes, forests are in a virgin state, and animals live their own lives and do not pay any attention to people.
National Park Hohe Tauern (Hohe Tauern)
Already wrote about him above in this article on walking routes, but it is so big and cool that it will not be out of place to tell a little more about it)))
The largest National Park Hohe Tauern (Hohe Tauern) in Europe: it has everything: the highest mountain in Austria Grossglockner, the largest three-cascade waterfall Krimml, 4,500 km of routes combined into 60 thematic routes. And a beautiful narrow mountain gorge Lichtensteinclamm (Liechtensteinklamm) with a waterfall and 60 peaks with a height of more than 3,000 meters and snow caps all year round.
Tayyatal National Park (Thayatal)
The park is located on the border with the Czech Republic and protects the nature of the green canyon of Austria, which was cut by the river Thaya, it goes around the mountain that grew in the middle of the valley. The canyon reaches a depth of 40 meters.
Neusiedl See (Neusiedl am See), Zeevinkel (Burgenland)
National park with the second largest (after the Danube Delta), reed zone, a paradise for rare species of birds and animals and very harmonious flat landscapes. If you appreciate the charm of restraint and asceticism of the steppe nature, you will really like it here. On the territory there are many vineyards, with tasting rooms ...
Gesoyse National Park (Gesäuse)
The youngest national park in Austria, founded only in 2002, is located in the federal state of Styria, near the border with Switzerland and Liechtenstein, this park has the largest elevation difference, almost 1000 meters, so there is a very diverse nature and landscape, and here the most striking rafting in Austria on the rough waters of the river Enns. The territory of the park is planned to be expanded, but now you will get a bunch of impressions here.
Food Tours: Wine and Cheeses of Austria
We are used to wine and cheese roads in all sorts of Italy and France. Austria does not seem to be among the world leaders in delicious cuisine. But, wines produced in Burgenland and Southern Styria are highly valued, and IceWine, an ice wine, is a special pride.
Austrian Wine Road
Weinviertel offers not only excellent wine, but also stunning picturesque views. You can just move from one wine house \\ basement to another. Slowly tasting white sweet wines, and of course Ice Wine (Ice wine), grapes for this wine are harvested after the first frost, while the berries give off more sugar .
Austrian Cheese Road
Bregenzervalde, VoralbergBregenzerwald cheese road , close to the border with Liechtenstein and Switzerland.It brought together 160 local cheese producers from 22 villages and created their own alpine cheese road. There are a lot of cheese factories, Guided tours are held in cheese factories, you can get acquainted with the technology of making cheese, this is a whole philosophy.
The restaurants, of course, serve a variety of cheese dishes: cheese soup, cheese balls, and cheese sticks. It also serves a cheese drink, it is hot and drink it instead of tea, a sour-cheese flavor, unusual, but tasty.
You also need to get into the damp basements in Lingenau (Lingenau), where most of the cheeses in the Bregenzenwald region ripen.
If you want to relax and freshen up a little differently, you can go to. 
Fishing in Austria
In Austria, you can’t come to the river and just throw a fishing rod, you need to get a license for fishing, it is issued separately in each of the federal states, and you cannot fish in Styria with a Tyrolean license. In addition, permission is required from the owner of the land where you are going to fish. The cost of a license is from 20 to 25 euros. You can usually buy it either in hotels near lakes or in tourist centers, usually there you get permission from the owner of the land. You can catch only on daylight hours, from morning to evening, night fishing is prohibited and you can’t just stop and spend the night on the beach, only in specially designated places for camping, fines are enormously high, both for fishing without a license and for unauthorized nights.
The most popular fishing regions in Austria are:
Grosse Mugl River (Grossmugl) – right tributary of the Danube, located in Upper Austria, trout and grayling are caught here
Gail River(Gail) - a picturesque place in the southernmost region of the country - Carinthia. This is the left tributary of the Drava, grayling, rainbow and brown trout are caught here.
Koppentraun (Koppentraun ) — in the Salzkammergut region is one of the six best trout places in Europe.
Stans Fishing Centerin tyrol , built in places where the princes used to fish. Importantly, there is no need to pay for a license. Pay only the weight of the catch. Immediately in the restaurant of the center you will prepare your prey.
And you can also fish in the reserve with untouched nature. Hager angel Park (Hager-Angel Park) Tyrol in Kössen here in the lake Hagersee trout, carp or sturgeon are found.
Glaciers and ski resorts in summer in Austria
And yes, there is no escape from skiing anywhere in Austria, ski resorts operate all year round, and a swimsuit will be provided for you on glaciers above 3000 m above sea level. Most of them are in Tyrol.
Zell am See and Kaprun.Kitzsteinhorn Glacier Salzburg Land
recently, a very popular ski resort. At an altitude of 3029 meters, glacier descents await you, the Panorama 3000 Cinema, and a view of Austria's highest mountain, Grossglockner. And after rolling, you can go down and soak in the new thermal complex TAUERN SPA Zell am See-Kaprun
Sölden (Solden). Tyrol. Rettenbachferner Glacier
Probably the most popular ski resort in Austria, located in a narrow valley Ötztal (Otztal) , surrounded by three thousandths on all sides, here in summer you can ski on a glacier Rettenbach (Rettenbach) at an altitude of 3340 meters above sea level! Plus, even in the summer you can do freeride here. Well, there is an undeniable additional bonus here - the thermal complex Aqua House (AquaDome).Before the appearance of the term in Kaprun, it was the largest thermal complex in the Alps. 72 million euros spent on his stand
Stubai Glacier (Stubai)
This is the largest glacier in Austria, equipped for ski slopes - 110 km of slopes. There are even cross-country skiing and toboggan runs. This is an ideal resort for families with children, there are highways of any complexity.
Hintertux Glacier
100% guarantee of snow all year round; the lifts operate all year round without interruption, even for one day. The glacier is huge, with gorgeous views of the peaks around. 10 km of summer slopes will give the opportunity to enjoy the slopes, those who can not wait for winter.
Pitztal
Pitstal cannot be called year-round, but in July there is still every chance to ride, you just have to replenish the highest cableway in Austria Pitz-Panoramabahn,along the way, you will have to take down the roof from the views of 50 three thousandths and the highest peak of Tyrol Wildspitze (3774 m). Even if you are not going to ride, be sure to climb here to enjoy the breathtaking alpine views. The slopes of this resort have been awarded many times as the most ideal.
Styria Dachstein Glacier ( 
)
A glacier where you can forget that you went up here for skiing. Ice and Mammoth Caves, which can be accessed directly from the ski lifts. There is a viewing platform not for the faint of heart, with 5 viewing platforms in the form of a palm and with a transparent floor. The Dachstein Glacier is protected by UNESCO, a conservation area that can be admired all year round.
Come to Austria in the summer, it's cool here! You are sure to find fun and adventure for yourself. And believe me, this will be one of the best summer vacations in life!
I am often asked the question, where, if not at sea, to relax with children in the summer? Now I definitely know the answer to this question, so for those who are too lazy to read the full article, I will answer in the first lines of the material: so, if you are tired of noisy sea resorts and want village comfort, swimming in the cleanest lakes, walking through coniferous forests and The healing mountain air, which normalizes the sleep of even very tormented parents by the inevitable stress of the capital, is an excellent option for the whole family to relax - the Austrian region of Carinthia.
But, before telling directly about the region, first of all, I will list the important points regarding recreation with children. Firstly, even compared to neighboring Italy in Carinthia very safe, that is, the level of care that nothing happens to your child here is extremely high, and the crime rate is one of the lowest in Europe; as a telling example, there is only one fact - newspapers and magazines are sold here as follows: newspapers are simply placed in plastic bags on city posts, below them is a box with the price, you drop the required amount into a transparent box, pick up the newspaper and go on about your business , in Italy, especially in the south, 10 minutes after the appearance of such a “kiosk”, there would be no box or newspapers on the street.
The second important point is great ecology, for example, another fact that is very revealing is that the water in all local lakes is potable. The third important point is excellent infrastructure for families: the vast majority of hotels have game rooms and playgrounds, and the children's menu is invariably on the buffet.
In the photo: tourist complex Naturel Village
Yes, which is important, many hotel complexes in Carinthia operate on an all-inclusive or HB system, which, if you are relaxing with your kids, is also extremely convenient.
FIVE MAGIC LAKE OF THE REGION
Austria for many Russians is certainly associated with a winter ski vacation, but Carinthia in this sense is an exception to the rule, since the region is more focused on summer holidays on the lakes. As Tomas Michor (Head of Region Villach Tourismus) told me, there are three times as many tourists in Carinthia in summer than in winter.
In the photo: I see the beauty from the top of the Dobratsch Gipfelhaus mountain
The fact is that the region is optimal for those who cannot stand the heat, and in the summer there is no heat in the mountains, but, most importantly, Carinthia is not just mountains, it is lakes surrounded by the Alps. The number of lakes here is really unthinkable by the standards of a small region - one thousand two hundred, but the most famous are five.
In the photo: view of the valley of lakes from the top of the Austrian Alps
The first is Wörthersee, azure lake, on the shore of which a full-fledged resort is arranged. Here, not only parents who decide to spend a summer vacation with children in Austria, but also young people who love classic resort leisure will like it. Numerous bars are opened on the lake shore, serving local wine, beer and hugo spritz - a kind of spritz aperol, however, the wine in this case is diluted with mineral water, where a fresh mint leaf is added, and sometimes syrup (do not believe it!) From elderberry flowers. Along the lake, deck chairs are installed on wooden floors, discos are immediately open, and there is even a casino.
However, the main local attraction is werzer’s Badehaus baths. The fact is that the building of the bathhouse was built in 1895, and although the last reconstruction of the building was carried out in the very recent past, more precisely, in 2013, it retained its historical appearance. The bathhouse is equipped not only with mandatory saunas and spas, but also with an outdoor heated pool, which automatically makes it possible to swim at any time of the year.
In the photo: Werzer’s Badehaus, photo courtesy of the council
However, in the summer you hardly need a heated pool, because the water in Wörthersee warms up to 26 degrees. Other popular types of local leisure: standing surfing with a paddle for active holidaymakers and motor boat trips for those who prefer to relax and dreamily contemplate the blue expanse of the lake surrounded by majestic mountains. By the way, the nature of Carinthia really sets the poetic perception of the world in full measure, not without reason in the vicinity of Wörthersee such famous composers as Brahms and Mahler liked to create. Yes, as I wrote above, the water in all the lakes of Carinthia is suitable for drinking, so swimming here is a pleasure.
In the photo: cafe on the shore of Lake Wörthersee
The second famous Carinthian resort is located on the lake, this place is worth considering for those who are passionate about fitness tours. The fact is that a center with the saying “Carinthian Lake Fitness” is open here, which is free for all visitors to the region. The trainers of the center conduct swimming lessons, organize walking and cycling tours in the surroundings and other useful activities.
In the photo: Klopeiner See lake, photo courtesy of the council
Tourism Carinthia / Kärnten Werbung.
Lake Faaker See - A favorite place to relax with the kids. On its shore is located, in which we lived during a trip to Carinthia.
In the photo: azure lake Lake Faker See
Naturel Village is arranged according to the type of Alpine-style villages: cozy wooden houses, each room has an adult and a children's bedroom, a kitchen, a living room and a balcony, where it is so pleasant to spend evenings watching the pink-cheeked moon come up from the mountain peaks.
The complex has two restaurants and a bar, a swimming pool with a spa center and several playgrounds are located nearby, where the kids play under the supervision of teachers, while their parents relax in the summer cafe. As for food, in Naturel Village you can take accommodation on an all-inclusive basis, and half board, you will not be disappointed in both cases.
Pictured: Restaurant in Naturel Village
The buffet here is excellent, breakfast invariably serves fresh pastries, local cheeses and the famous Austrian apple juice, for dinner - fish from Lake Faaker See, which is prepared in the most incredible ways, I personally was very impressed with trout baked in bacon. For younger guests, of course, a children's table is provided.
In the photo: built by Naturel Village in the forest
The complex is located in a real forest, for example, we even had a nest with chicks on the balcony, and also in the territory of Naturel Village there was a “living corner” where goats and rabbits live, in a word, a kind of ideal village village, just like in the movie “Dirty dances”, remember, there in a similar village, handsome Patrick Swayze gave dance lessons to vacationers?
In the photo: on the balcony of our house there was a nest with chicks
The main feature of Naturel Village is its tranquility and grace, you involuntarily imbued with the idea that happiness should be sought in the little things, and if you don’t fix on the problems, they will fly away by themselves, like morning fog over the lake.
Pictured: go to bed early in Naturel Village
Speaking of the lake, Faaker See is also called a turquoise or azure lake because of the unique color of the water, a popular leisure in addition to swimming and catamaran trips is hiking in the local coniferous forests, as well as canoe tours in the marshy area, of course, accompanied by guides .
In the photo: walkways around Faaker See
The cost of living in Naturel Village: from 80 to 120 euros (for a room for four), a link to the official website of the complex:.
In the photo: while walking around the Faaker Seeconstantly
you meet rabbits, then hedgehogs, then goats grazing nearby
Worthy alternative to Naturel Village, located on Faaker See - resorts lake Weissensee. Weissensee's peculiarity is that, despite the fact that the lake is located very high in the Alps, the water in it warms up to 22 degrees. For children, in addition to swimming, other leisure options are also provided, for example, rafting or visiting the Robert Roble National Park, where the kids and the ranger can go on an underwater excursion.
Another lake, on the banks of which lovers of everything active and sports should stop, is where, besides everything else, the Carinthian Summer Music Festival is also organized. Since free winds invariably blow in this area, Ozziher See is popular among windsurfing enthusiasts, paragliding trains on the nearby Gerlitsen mountain range, and cyclists master local cycle routes, which are about 27 kilometers long. In a word, the lake for those who are considering a summer vacation is another opportunity to play sports from the heart.
The last lake in today's review is Millstatter See, not only young parents will like it, but also couples in love, or young parents who again want to feel like they have just fallen in love. The fact is that the lake is surrounded by romantic bays, from the wooden decking of which it is so pleasant to dive into the warm water, plus a bath with saunas and massages is arranged on the shore of the lake, and in addition, at dawn, boat trips are often arranged here so that guests can enjoy , like morning fog, at first gently, like a veil, caresses the blue expanse of the lake, and then scatters without a trace under the transparent, pink rays of the rising sun.
WHAT TO SEE AND WHAT TO DO IN CARINTHIA?
Perhaps this doesn’t sound quite right, but, in my opinion, it’s not worthwhile to travel specifically to Austrian towns in search of sights during your vacation in Karitnia. During a vacation in this region of the country, it is better to recall the words of Vysotsky about the “guy in the mountains of the Tang” and go on one of the hiking routes - to conquer the mountain peaks.
In the photo: a walk in the Alps, on the observation deck
I’m in a hurry to reassure alarmists and non-sportsmen: for walking tours, special training and special uniforms are not needed, it is enough to get trekking boots, comfortable sportswear and a backpack. There are many hiking trails in Caritinia, maps with detailed descriptions can be obtained at any hotel in the region, they are issued here, like city maps in Rome or Paris, for each tourist, by the way. Personally, during my trip to the region I made a trekking climb to the Dobratsch Gipfelhaus ski peak, also known for having an Alpine Grass Garden at its foot, and a church built at the very top of the mountain at an altitude of 2143 meters above sea level.
In the photo: the church on top of the Dobratsch Gipfelhaus
I must warn you that climbing mountains is not for the weak in spirit and gentle in body. Even if the process takes only 1.5 hours, during this time the muscles of the whole body get such a complex load that you understand that regular exercise in the gym is not a universal way to develop endurance. But when you find yourself on the top of the mountain, you settle down in a local restaurant where delicious sausages are served, and you begin to admire the view of the neighboring mountains from the top, you are surrounded by a feeling of delight, mixed with the feeling of victory over yourself.
In the photo: the Austrian Alps are beautiful
You enjoy the beauty of alpine meadows already on the descent, and the next day you really seriously think: “Can I repeat the experience of climbing?”, The fact that the muscles are still aching after yesterday, you somehow do not pay attention.
If you are not ready for hiking, but the mountains still beckon and call you, then you can reach the peaks using the funiculars, of which there are many in Carinthia. The most famous cable cars are Bergbahnen and Mayrhofner. Another option for a relaxed program is boat cruises on the lakes of the region or on the river to the town of Villach.
In the photo: these are the types that open during a river cruise
Restaurants are open on the boats, so during the trip you just sip wine or beer, watch the life-being of the swan families nesting in the reeds, and at the same time remember the song from the movie “Three in a boat, not counting a dog” about “a gentle, quiet and good river ".
In the photo: a street with numerous umbrellas in the center of Klagenfurt
If you are still attracted to the cities from natural beauties, you can stop by the town of Villach and Klagenfurt for one day. Both are small, cutest, as they say, gingerbread. Here it makes sense to take a walk in the center, eat strudel or zacher cake in a local cafe and, of course, go shopping, the fact is that clothes and luxury shoes in Austria are cheaper than even in neighboring Italy.
In the photo: a fountain in the form of a brewer in the center of Klagenfurt
Well, for lovers of castles and the dark Middle Ages I recommend climbing to the mountainous region of Finkenstein, where on the top of a hundred and fifty meter high cliffs the famous Hochosterwitz castle flaunts. Although the first mention of the fortress dates back to 860 AD, the modern castle building was erected in the sixteenth century. By the way, the castle in those days was not just a fortification or home of a wealthy landowner, but a miniature city, as you can easily see when walking around the Hochosterwitz.
In the photo: Hochosterwitz Castle on a cliff top
Once dwelling houses are hidden behind the fortress walls, museums and a restaurant are located right there, as well as reenactors in Hochosterwitz often organize historical shows, plus music festivals from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance are also held here.
KARINTI KITCHEN: WHAT TO TRY?
Of course, the main gastronomic specialty of the region is lake fish, more precisely, the Carinthian “laxn" - a local variety of trout. It is prepared in a wide variety of ways: from simply grilled or baked in foil to options with herbs from alpine meadows. What is especially nice, the fish in the restaurants of Carinthia is served from that lake on the shore of which you decided to have lunch. Among the gourmet places, I would like to advise the coastal region of Lake Wörthersee: all 27 restaurants open on the shore are included in the Gault Millau restaurant rating, and therefore the quality of dishes here is above the “excellent” mark.
Photo provided by advice
tourism Carinthia / Kärnten Werbung.
We recommend discovering Austrian wines from drinks. The fact is that Carinthia borders on the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, which is known for producing the magnificent Sauvignon Blanc, as well as the famous Friulano. The traditions of Carinthian winemakers as a whole have common roots with the traditions of wine production in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, but although the white and red wines of Carinthia are worth tasting, for my personal taste, white Carinthian wine wins compared to red. Riesling and chardonnay locally produced are dry wines with a delicate, tart taste and a bright aroma, and, importantly, they are very good in combination with lake fish. And, of course, classic Austrian beer and apple and pear cider cannot be ignored.
HOW TO GET TO CARINTHIA?
You can get to Carinthia as follows - a flight to Vienna, and then a flight to Klagenfurt; the second option is arriving at the Ljubljana airport in neighboring Slovenia, then you rent a car (the journey takes about an hour), the third option is a flight to Venice (Italy), and then again by car, the journey takes about two hours, Italy with Austria connects the highway, the fare is 15 euros.