Hiking
Summer 2015
The Alpe-Adria-Trail, themed walks, a “walkable” art project
Walking for pleasure – with added value!
In Carinthia, on the sunny side of the Alps, hikers are spoiled for choice with so many wonderful paths at all heights. Depending on what you want to do, what mood you are in, how demanding you want your walk to be, and your fitness level, there are innumerable signposted paths all across Carinthia, providing the ideal setting for unforgettable walking experiences in a natural landscape. The number one flagship walk in Carinthia is the Alpe-Adria-Trail, which extends over 750 kilometres in 43 stages from the Grossglockner in Carinthia via Slovenia to the sea near Trieste. But in Carinthia it’s not just about walking – there is even more on offer.
The Alpe-Adria-Trail
If you are looking for a really special walk, the Alpe-Adria-Trail is for you. This long-distance walk links three countries – Carinthia, Slovenia and Italy – and is divided into 43 stages each covering a distance of about 20 km. Walkers decide on the distance they want to cover, since the stages can be walked individually or in combination.
Trail description: The trail starts in Heiligenblut and leads through Großkirchheim to the artists’ town of Gmünd. It continues across the impressive Millstätter Alpe and the spa town of Bad Kleinkirchheim, arriving at Arriach, the geographical centre of Carinthia, over the Gerlitzen Alpe, and on to Velden on Lake Wörthersee and the Baumgartnerhöhe near Lake Faaker See. The next stages of the Alpe-Adria-Trail take the walker through the skiing world cup town of Kranjska Gora, along the turquoise-green river Soča, across the Triglav National Park in the midst of the mysterious Julian Alps, into the winegrowing region of Goriška Brdaand on to the horse breeding and equestrian sports centre Lipica. The border with Italy is crossed at the “wine paradise” of Collio, after which the trail moves west into the richly traditional town of Cividale del Friuli. The next target is the rugged landscape of the karst plateau. Once we have reached the sea at Duino, there remain just a few kilometres to the idyllic port of Muggia.
Detailed information at:
Breathtaking views with “Kostalan”as your reward
In the Sonnenwinkel region of Carinthia, the Southern Alps Panorama Trail extends through the regions of Rosental, Klopeiner See/Southern Carinthia and the Lavant Valley. On a route over 200 kilometres long divided into 17 daily stages, nature enthusiasts can discover the Karawanken and the fantastic panorama over the border region between Carinthia and Slovenia.
The 55 kilometre long circular path around Lake Wörthersee also offers a wonderful view of the Karawanken mountain range.
On the Kreuzeck High AltitudeTrail in the Upper Drau Valley OutdoorPark, hikers can immerse themselves in the silent mountain-top world of the Kreuzeck group. From the top of the Ederplan, it is said that you can see 30 peaks over three thousand metres in height and 66 churches.
For those who like to combine walking with good food, we recommend the “Kostaleweg” trail on the Gerlitzen in the Villach region, where you can enjoy a circular route passing three mountain lodges offering “Kostalan”(sample portions) for a tasty break.
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The nock/art “walkable” art project inBad Kleinkirchheim
The nock/art project, which was started in 2013 inBad Kleinkirchheim, is based on contemporary art and the way it interacts with the landscape, the people who live there, and the act of hiking. The project started off with the 1stPublic Art Walk by Hamish Fulton, and in 2014 the artists’ group AO&, together with the Hotel Konkurrenz and Michael Strasser, created in ENDE NEU two unique projects in the Nockbergeadventure area. From summer 2015 onwards, a new hiking route infrastructure will represent the second pillar of the nock/art project, with six richly varied walking routes and a small number of targeted “interventions” pointing out special features of the cultural landscape of Bad Kleinkirchheim and the Nockberge mountains. The opening ceremony for these six walking routes will take place as part of the nock/art Hiking Openingevent from 4 to 7 June.
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On the track of fossils and garnets
The Carnic High AltitudeTrail in the Nassfeld – Pressegger See | Lesachtal | Weissensee region extends over 155 kilometres along the border between Carinthia and Italy. Here, hikers can discover 500 million years of the earth’s history, and may even be lucky enough to find some well preserved fossils.
Garnets and other treasures such as the seven-trunk spruce – the “sacred tree” – or the “Lochvisierstein Menhir” can be found at LakeMillstätter See, where the Millstätter See High Altitude Trailprovides 200 kilometres of walking taking in mystic sites around the lake. In January 2014, because of its quality and the experiences it offers, the Millstätter See High Altitude Trailwas awarded the Austrian seal of hiking quality. It is the only long-distance walking path in Carinthia, and one of three walks in Austria that are intended to be undertaken over several days, that bears this sought-after award.
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Summit attempt, night walks and trekking in the National Park
An extremely popular location among hikers is the Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria’s first National Park. The Tauernhöhenweg high altitude path extends along the main ridge of the Alps, over peaks above three thousand metres in height. One of the classics of the trekking routes in the National Park is the “Hochalmrunde”. In addition to the summit attempt, hikers will also be tempted in the Hohe Tauern mountain range by guided night walks in the Grottensteinschlucht gorge, glacier trekking on the Pasterze, and trekking tours to the goldmining sites (including tunnels) in the ZirknitzValley.
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The wonder herb “Speik”in the NockbergeBiosphere Park
In the Nockberge Biosphere Park, as well as the scented Swiss pines there is another natural treasure to be discovered. On selected hiking routes you may come across traces of the Speik plant. The “Alpine valerian” has valuable and sought-after ingredients which have raised it to the level of a healing aromatic plant. The scent of this visually insignificant plant is at its most intense in July and August. An extended walk over the gentle, fragrant Nockberge mountains is both invigorating and calming. In eleven rustic mountain lodges, hikers will find wooden tubs ready to provide relaxing Speik footbaths.
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At the beginning of the year, under the heading “Tourismusregion Nockberge”,six local municipalitiesall around the Nockberge Biosphere Park started a cooperation initiative. Existing attractions such as the Nockalm Road (including Sigi’s Natursaibling char farm) and a wide variety of facilities (adventure paths, Silva Magica, Grundalm “Forestry Exhibition”) are being enhanced by the respective special features of the cooperating municipalities(Feldkirchen, Himmelberg, Gnesau, Reichenau, Albeck, Deutsch Griffen) and the Nockberge Biosphere Park. The aims of the Biosphere Park are to maintain the natural environment and the cultural landscape in their original condition and to create sustainable development between man and nature.
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Kärnten Card
Families will find the Kärnten Card extremely useful, since it means they can visit over 100 attractions in Carinthia as often as they like. Fantastic reductions are also available from over 60 bonus partners. Valid from 12 April to 26 October 2015.
Press contact Kärnten Werbung GmbH
Mag. Ute Zaworka
Völkermarkter Ring 21 - 23, A-9020 Klagenfurt
Tel. 0043(0)463-3000-46, Fax. 0043(0)463-3000-60
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