Carinthia: round trip

Come to the lakes of Carinthia

The Austrian Riviera – you'll experience a picturesque bike tour in Austria's southernmost and sunniest region. Enjoy the impressive scenery and numerous lakes nestling amongst enchanting mountain ranges. You should not miss the local delicacies at Castle Hochosterwitz and Maria Saal. Interesting towns like Villach and Klagenfurt are expecting you– and of course the beautiful nature of this region. The change of road surfaces between the valleys and lakes to avoid busy main roads will sometimes bring you onto bumpy, hilly routes but with a normal fitness level this cycle tour is easily manageable.

1. day Arrival in Villach

To fully enjoy the silence within the mountains, crystal-clear lakes, in short: nature you should arrive as early as possible in the day at Villach-Warmbad, in the center of Carinthia. Even the Romans and Paracelsus appreciated the relaxation and recreation within these thermal springs.

If you booked bikes we will provide them in your hotel.

2. day Around Lake Ossiach 45km

The first stop of your tour after leaving Villach will be the castle ruin of Landskron. On a clear day, the castle ruins can be seen over Villach and far beyond. The old knights knew exactly where to settle. No wonder, as the picturesque backdrop has hardly changed over time: the green of the Gerlitzen in the foreground, the blue of the Ossiacher See in the background. Time for a stop- the old monastery and the marvellous church "Maria Himmelfahrt" Is definitely worth being explored. Your next destination will be the charming spa resort Steindorf on the eastern side of the Ossiacher Lake. Make a short stop in Bodensdorf at the feet of the Gerlitzen before completing the circuit back to Villach-Warmbad.

3. day Villach- Klagenfurt 50 km

Today you will have to say goodbye to the nearly 1,000 year old town of Villach. At first, you cycle several kilometres along the Drauradweg, then into the Keutschacher Lake Valley. The Hafner Lake, the Keutschacher Lake, the Bassgeiger Lake and the Rauschele Lake form a group around the health resort Keutschach. As an alternative route, you can go along the Wörthersee and visit the famous villages Velden and Pörtschach. Both routes will bring you to the capital of Carinthia – Klagenfurt.

4. day Klagenfurt- Lake Klopeiner 40 km

Today you will get to know Carinthia"s charming capital [90,000 inhabitants]. An Italian architect gave the historical centre a mediterranean appearance. Heart and symbol of Klagenfurt, the "rose on Wörthersee", is the lindworm on the New Square. Sculptor Ulrich Vogelsang chiselled the favourite lap-dog of the Carinthians from one block - according to tradition. Passing Ebenthal with Castle Grafenstein you'll come to the artificial lake in Völkermarkt. Onto Carinthia's warmest lake, the Klopeiner See, where you"ll spend the night. There's enough time to have a refreshing bath in the lake.

5. day Lake Klopeiner- St. Veit 40/55 km

You cross the Drau for the last time and cycle through a slightly hilly landscape. Marvel at the two mighty towers of Carinthia's most imposing fortified church in Maria Saal. The cycle path leads you past the Carinthian Herzogsstuhl. It has stood there for more than a thousand years and is, so to speak, the center of the Carinthian world. As far as the eye can see, the historic Carinthian Zollfeld spreads out in front of you. Hochosterwitz Castle: It's amazing what nature first and what people later put on there. In the middle of the field is a 150-meter-high limestone rock, which slopes steeply on all sides and has been converted into an impregnable fortress. Numerous castles and palaces in the area remind of the former importance of the former state capital St. Veit. Enjoy your free time here. Discover the city wall, the medieval main square, the magnificent Renaissance houses and beautiful arcade courtyards, the ducal castle and many monuments that still bear witness to the time when St. Vitus was the capital of the country and seat of the Carinthian bishop.

6. day St.Veit- Villach 60 km

Go for a short walk around St. Veit and take a look at the numerous courtyards. Then your route takes you westwards along the Glan towards Glanegg. From far away, you can see the castle ruins of Glanegg standing in solitary splendour. Feldkirchen is surrounded by hills, romantic castles and many old ruins. A cycle path along the Glan brings you directly to the Ossiacher Lake and back to Villach.

7. day Around Lake Faaker 50 km

Leaving the town of Warmbad Villach behind, you will cycle along the feet of the Karawanken eastwards to arrive at the last lake of your tour: The Lake Faaker with it's Mittagskogel peak towering majestically above the scene. Extensive, undeveloped meadows and green strips of forest surround the lake, in the middle of which there is a graceful island. After a leisurely break at the lake, start your return journey. Over a small ridge you get to the gray-green, shiny Drau. The Drau cycle path takes you back to Villach at a leisurely pace.

8. day Villach Departure

On request, we will be glad to book additional nights for you in Carinthia.

Worth knowing about your Carinthia tour

Below please find more information about your bike trip. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact us by phone: 0049 - (0)6421-886890.

Arrival by train

Villach is easily accessible from all major cities in Germany by train.We recommend to take a taxi from the station to get to our partner hotels in Villach. Current schedule information and price information can be found at: www.bahn.de.

Train schedule information

Arrival by plane

There are several convenient connections to Klagenfurt. Continue by train to Villach: by airport bus to the main station of Klagenfurt; ½ hourly trains from Villach, journey time 30 minutes, cost approx 12.00 EUR / trip.

Parking facilities at the hotel

Within a short distance of the start hotel there is a free public car park and a public underground car park (about 35 Euro per week). No pre-reservation is necessary. You will receive detailed information about the parking options at the hotel booked for you with the detailed travel documents two weeks before the start of the journey.

Condition of cycle paths

The change between the individual river valleys and lakes, as well as the avoidance of busy routes sometimes brings a somewhat hilly route with it. But with "normal" fitness this bike trip is safe to handle. You cycle mostly on paved bike paths and side roads with little traffic. The route is consistently well signposted.

Available rental bikes

27-speed unisex wheels (freewheeler) are available. 7-speed wheels withcoaster brake and e-wheels without coaster brake are available on request. The electric bikes of the brand Kalkhoff are with freewheel and have a range of about 140 km. Each bike is equipped with a saddlebag, handlebar bag, odometer and ring lock.

Helmets are obligatory in Austria

It is obligatory to wear a helmet for children under 12 years.

Extra costs which are not included in the price

Any tourism tax that may be incurred is not part of the tour price and must therefore be paid on site at the hotel.

7 day hotline service

In case of chain breakdown, flooding or other bad surprises that makes a continuation of your tour impossible: no problem, we also work during weekends and you can reach us 7 days a week in case of emergency.

Passport and visa requirements, health regulations

For EU citizens, there are no special passport or visa requirements and no health formalities to be considered for this trip.

Corona travel information:
Before booking your trip, please inform yourself about the measures in place to contain the Corona pandemic.

An up-to-date overview of applicable measures and travel and safety advice regarding Covid-19 for all countries in the EU and Switzerland can be found here:
https://reopen.europa.eu/en/

You can also find more information on our website at:
Corona virus and holiday planning

Travel insurance

The tour price already includes the statutory insolvency insurance. In addition, we recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance upon receipt of your travel confirmation in order to protect yourself against financial disadvantages in the event of travel cancellation, interruption of travel, illness or accident.

Burgruine Landskron Villach

Landskron Castle was built in the 16th century, on the foundation walls of a fortification dating from the 14th century.
Today, Landskron accommodates an exclusive restaurant, a monkey park and an ornithological station for birds of prey.

Landskron Castle

Chruch of the holy cross Villach

The church of the holy cross is one of the most beautiful sakral baroque buildings of the country. It it the follower of the St. Peter Church (1203) which has been recognises as a church in 1244 by the bishop, the patriarch of Aquileia.

Kirche zum Heiligenkreuz Villach

Lake Faaker

In the north the River Drau, in the south the Karawanken Range with majestic Mittagskogel – and in between Finkenstein on turquoise Lake Faaker. It is Carinthia’s southerly lake (with island hotel). In summer Finkenstein Castle Arena overlooking Lake Faaker draws crowds, as it hosts a wide range of cultural events every year. The historic arena seats just under 1,200 – for very special concerts and cabaret in a simply stunning setting.

Lake Faak

Lake Ossiacher

Steindorf has a monster. But no need to worry: it is only what some jokingly call the Stone House built by the late star architect Günther Domenig. After nearly twenty years of construction, the famous architect’s opus magnum is a landmark and attraction, drawing tourists and those interested in architecture alike. The village of Steindorf with 3,725 inhabitants lies on the north side of Lake Ossiach, about eight kilometres from Feldkirchen, between Gerlitzen Alpe and the Ossiacher Tauern range. The perfect base therefore for wonderful holidays between the lake and mountains. Where to swim: the beach in Bodensdorf has 10,000 square metres for sunbathing and relaxing. Water temperature? Up to 26 degrees in summer.

Ossiacher See

Boat trip Wörthersee

Discover the Wörthersee from its nicest part! Be surprised and enjoy an easy-going, pleasurable journey on the Wörthersee.
Welcome on board!

Boat trip Wörthersee

Pilgrimage Church Maria Wörth

The famous pilgrimage church is located on a peninsula at the southern part of the Wörthersee. The baroque cross altar has a gothic cross from the 16th century. The glorious pulpit has been built in 1761. The gothic baptistery has a baroque upper part with symbols of caducity.

Pilgrimage Church Maria Wörth

Klagenfurt

Art, good food, and nature promise countless moments of wonder, delectation and invigorating outdoor experiences. Klagenfurt, the capital of Carinthia located on Lake Wörthersee, invites you to set out on a journey of discovery that will captivate each and every one of your senses.

Klagenfurt

Hochosterwitz Castle

The west side is the central front of the castle. The middle part with a flight of seven windows, is the oldest building dating from around 1540, the northern wing of the main front was built in 1575/76 according to the inscription panel to set it again after the round tower earlier model. The extension, which points to the south, was with the stairs and the upper gallery on the foundations of the parapet wall around 1673 and listed simultaneously closed down the old main entrance in the round (west) tower.

Hochosterwitz Castle

Lake Klopeiner

Lake Klopeiner with its smooth, turquoise water is the star of the region. But its six "brothers" with water temperatures of up to 28°C are attractions not just for bathing fans. Families will find their cycle-paradise here. up to 1.246 km almost car-free cycle tracks are waiting for you to enjoy the superb landscape.

Klopeiner See

St. Veit an der Glan

Several archaeological findings suggest a settlement in the area as early as the Carolingian times. According to legend, in 901 a battle of Bavarian forces against invading Magyars instigated the founding of the town. As first mentioned in an 1131 deed, a Saint Vitus Church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gurk was located here within the Duchy of Carinthia. According to an 1137 agreement, it was "repurchased" by the Bishopric of Bamberg.

St. Veit an der Glan

Glanegg Castle

In the center of the sunny Glan Valley where the upper narrow bottom of the valley starts to widen and where the old Roman road crossed the Glan river at Mautbrücken lies the formerly traffic controlling Glanegg castle in previously strategic location at the steep northern valley side.

The builder of the castle is still unknown but according to the latest information it is assumed that the House of Eppensteiner were the builders. It was a conspicuous house in its time ( and had a lot of properties from the north of Styria to the Friuli region ). In 1012 Adalbero became the first Carinthian Duke, later however he was excommunicated and put under imperial ban because he had murdered Count Wilhelm ( who was the son of Hemma von Gurk ) and therefore there is almost no information about this period available.

Glanegg Castle