The Velociped cycling tour along Austria’s Drau River takes you from Lienz in East Tyrol to Lake Klopein in Carinthia, the warmest bathing lake in Europe! We start in Lienz, where the rivers Isel and Drau meet. The capital of East Tyrol is nestled in the heart of the Dolomites, and its charming, lively main square is lined with one beautiful historic building after another. From here, the Drau rushes down from its source at 1,256 metres in the Hochpustertal, and the excellently developed Drau Cycle Path gently leads us downhill. But we will still find yourself reaching for the brakes time and again – because there is simply so much to see, experience and taste along the way.
Of course, we make a stop at the richly decorated collegiate church in Innichen in Italian South Tyrol, which we conveniently reach by train the next day. It is the most important Romanesque church in the region. From there, we continue through the picturesque Puster Valley, with castles perched high above us and the Lienz Dolomites standing majestically along the way, all the way to Dobbiaco near the source of the Drau. Almost every cyclist makes a stop at Loacker – and so do we. A large sign along the cycle path points to the left, and we follow it. Entire groups of cyclists gather here to enjoy the delicious wafers with hazelnut filling. Naturally, a few of them find their way into our panniers. Nearby, an Italian extended family is having a picnic by one of the small waterfalls along the path – a perfect moment to pause.
Rolling downstream, we follow the milky-green Drau through the charming Upper Drau Valley. The scenery is truly spectacular: snow-capped peaks in the distance, lush green meadows dotted with buttercups, primroses and dandelions. At one point, we spontaneously cross a bridge to the left side of the river – because that’s where the Vitalpinum in Assling-Thal is located. Shoes off and into a wooden box, which we crank up by hand – and off we go along the barefoot trail. Soon we arrive at the wonderful arnica fountain, which refreshes tired cyclists’ legs. It tingles – and yes, arnica really does feel invigorating and refreshing. Honestly, I’d rather not put my shoes back on at all. But there’s more to discover: an alpine herb shower with a fine aromatic mist, a Swiss stone pine relaxation area, and much more. In the small distillery, we learn all about the production of mountain pine oil. The Vitalpinum is a unique mix of an interactive museum, a show garden and an educational experience. Feeling wonderfully refreshed, we continue cycling on to Berg in the Austrian region of Carinthia.
In Carinthia, you’re never far from the water. In Spittal an der Drau, you can ride straight into relaxation at the “Drautalperle” spa. At the local folklore museum in Porcia Castle, a 200-square-metre panoramic image of Carinthia spreads across the floor, clearly illustrating the region’s rich water landscapes – its many lakes and, of course, the lifeline of the Drau, which we continue to follow towards Villach. In Villach, another highlight awaits: a 182-square-metre 3D relief of Carinthia in Schiller Park, complete with sound, light and visual effects. For an even better view, you can climb the 239 steps of the 94-metre-high tower of St. Jakob’s Church – the tallest in Carinthia – offering breathtaking views all the way to the Julian Alps. But first, we stroll through the charming streets of the old town. Velociped cyclists naturally check into their hotel, but if you’d like to take a relaxed break beforehand, the Radbutler right by the Drau bridge offers free and secure storage for bikes and luggage – highly recommended! Back in Spittal, the KärntenTherme provides pure water fun with its Black Hole slide, outdoor thermal pools and bubbling jets. Simply wonderful. To round off the day, we enjoy a glass of Carinthian wine – and then it’s time to go “napfatzn,” as they say here in Carinthia… which simply means: off to sleep.
You hear many different languages here – Italian, for example, which is no surprise given how close the Italian border is. In Carinthia, alongside German, Slovene is also an official language with a long and rich history. We are always fascinated by Austrian expressions and start collecting new words: Preispickerl, Stubenmädchen, Fluchtfolge… We continue cycling through the enchanting Rosental Valley, always accompanied by views of the Karawanken mountains. The Drau grows wider here, and along its banks we spot Hollenburg Castle, a landmark of the region. This impressive fortress, with its thick walls, offers breathtaking views over the surrounding landscape. From here, we look out towards St. Jakob im Rosental, an idyllic cultural landscape of forests and meadows, framed by the mighty Karawanken range and the shimmering waters of the Drau reservoir.
In the end, we say: Goodbye, dear Drau! And continue cycling through meadows and fields towards Lake Klopein. Time to get off the bike and jump straight into the water – what a joy! With summer temperatures reaching up to 29°C, this 1.1 km² lake is the warmest in Austria. It’s also home to around 15 different species of fish. So, can you guess what we had for dinner that evening.
Floating on your back in the water, gazing up at the sky and replaying this wonderful cycling tour in your mind once more – it’s simply perfect.
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