We are thinking of visiting Carinthia, Austria, after watching a television program filmed there. The area looks stunning, but I have never seen it discussed on this forum.
We have already visited Salzburg and Vienna but wonder if anyone has any experience with this area of Austria? We thoroughly enjoy hiking and just enjoying nature, so that would be our primary focus. I don't need a large city with lots of amenities to enjoy my trip.
Yes, I have experience in this region. What do you want to know?
I should have made that clearer.
We are thinking of spending about a week in the area before/after some time in Bavaria. We are looking to experience an area we have not previously visited and wanted input from someone who had been there.
As I said, we would mostly be interested in hiking, walking and a low-key type of interlude in our trip. We are also interested in seeing any sights of interest.
My Grandfather lived in the area, on the Wörthersee, and I have spent a bit of time in the area. My favorite place in Carinthia is Hochosterwitz:
http://www.burg-hochosterwitz.com/en
There are also some Roman ruins with mosaics very near there.
Yes, a lovely area with very few American visitors.
Sorry Lynne, quite late here.
I seem to spend most of my summer trips in Carinthia or the nearby Eastern Tirol. Carinthia is mountainous and has many lakes. It is not like the Hohe Tauern area that has many high, snow-capped peaks and includes the two highest mountains in Austria. So you should be able to find gentler hiking I would say in parts of Carinthia.
Bodental is a valley in Carinthia very close to the Slovenian border. I have stayed in Berggasthof Lausegger and the young people there speak English - http://www.lausegger.info/bp/
They will also be on booking.com. Need to like curvy mountain roads to get there (Kurvenreich in German I think). Ask for a room with a mountain view as opposed to garden view. Simple rooms. It is just a bit south of Woerthersee.
Carinthia is mostly known for its numerous lakes (60+) as well as for the surrounding mountains.
If you go there make sure to visit the Pyramidenkogel tower. On a clear day you can see 20+ lakes fron the top, they say. If you are tough you may climb up (450+ steps) and eventually rush down a slide. You may take the lift instead, of course.
