The warmest bathing lake in Europe
The Klopeiner See area is bounded to the north by the Saualpe range and to the south by the majestic Karawanken. The “Klopeiner See - Südkärnten” region has a network of more than 1,200 kilometres of hiking trails, running from 440 to 2,139 metres above sea level.
Klopeiner See in winter: skiing on the Petzen, skating and swimming by the lake
There is no ski area at Klopeiner See itself. The southern Carinthia tourist board lists Petzen, Koralpe, Weinebene and Klippitztörl as the resorts of the region.
Petzen has 15 km of groomed pistes of every difficulty and a 7.5 km valley run. A modern gondola takes you up to 1,700 m above sea level. Lifts run daily from 9.00 to 16.00, and during Advent Petzen holds a Christmas market.
The tourist board sums up the winter programme of the region as 100 activities: cross-country skiing and biathlon in the Langlaufarena at Pirkdorfer See, tobogganing, horse riding, snowshoeing in the UNESCO Geopark Karawanken, ski touring and golf. The Badehaus Klopeiner See has a heated outdoor pool that stays open in winter.
Klopeiner See in summer: hiking between the mountains and the lake in southern Carinthia
From the Obir dripstone cave, the largest in Europe, through the Trögerner Klamm nature reserve, where the wild water of the Trögerner Bach carved a romantic gorge, to the pass from the Luschasattel down to Globasnitz - the Klopeiner See region gives you wonderful holiday days.
In Eberndorf you should certainly visit the Sablatnigmoor nature reserve - a real paradise for bird lovers. You can learn more about birds in the Turnersee bird park. If you want more action, try the local 1,200-metre summer toboggan run.
Bleiburg, Diex and Feistritz ob Bleiburg are a real oasis for anyone looking for quiet. The mountain village of Diex, on the southern slope of the Alps, is the sunniest place in Austria with more than 2,200 hours of sunshine a year. It is the starting point for many hikes in the gently rolling Saualp area.
The Wildensteiner waterfall in Gallizien is a natural spectacle without equal. It is, after all, the highest free-falling waterfall in Europe!
The flower park in Sittersdorf covers 40,000 m², where you can experience the real variety of nature, while the area around Völkermarkt and Neuhaus offers unspoilt countryside and fine monuments.
In the sunniest part of Austria the “Golfclub Golfpark Klopeinersee-Südkärnten” could not be missing, and it has the longest golf season in Austria!
Are you looking for somewhere to swim at Klopeiner See? The family beach “Klopeiner See Strandbad Krainz” lies right on the eastern shore of the lake. The water reaches up to 28 degrees in summer, which makes it ideal for families with children. There are other bathing places as well, such as Erlebnis-Freibad Bleiburg, Erlebnis-Freibad Bad Eisenkappel (free entry with the Kärnten Card) and Freibad Griffen.
And the children? They have somewhere to play!
The village of St. Kanzian lies right by Klopeiner See and is made for families with children. Take your children to the “Märchenwald Schreckendorf” fairytale forest, where they can meet Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White and other well-known fairytale characters. After all that exploring, small visitors can eat at the Gasthof in the fairytale forest, which usually offers a special children's menu. If they still want more, take them to the “Walderlebniswelt” forest adventure world, where up to 80 attractions wait in one place!
The highlight of a visit will certainly be bungee jumping. A jump from the 96-metre “Jauntalbrücke”, the highest railway bridge in central Europe, will certainly get you.
Accommodation in the area
Find the right accommodation for you in the Klopeiner See destination!
Typical local cuisine
The Klopeiner See region in southern Carinthia is a real paradise of specialities. If you prefer beer, try Jauntaler Bauernbier, which goes best with a hearty Carinthian snack of Jauntaler salami, fresh butter and crusty bread.