Carinthia, in southern Austria, is a land of lakes, mountains and sun with an alpine terrain that has a gentler feel than the more jagged peaks of the Tyrol to the north. In these parts they like to call it the 'sunny side of the Alps' and they do have a lot more sun than other areas of the Alps.
In
winter the land is snow covered and most of the lakes are frozen, and as in most
other parts of Austria, skiing is the main activity. But
Carinthia has a more rounded view of wintersports. Cross-country
skiing is very popular as is winter walking on cleared paths through the
snow and snowshoeing. Other diverse activities such as ice
golf, curling and skating are also enjoyed.
The mood is markedly more relaxed
with a Mediterranean feel – Carinthia borders Italy and Slovenia. Legend has it they once ran out of virgins to
satisfy the appetite of a dragon in Klagenfurt because there wasn't a
word for 'no' in the local vocabulary.
Fun and excitement are abundant throughout the winter on the
slopes of Carinthia's ski resorts, the two biggest of which are Bad Kleinkirchheim and Nassfeld ; both are moving rapidly up the rankings of
Austria's ski areas. Among the others are Heiligenblut nestling under
Austria's highest mountain, the Grossglockner, Katschberg and the delightful Gerlitzen which provides
fabulous slopes for beginners' and families. There are more
than 600-kilometres of cross-country trails and more than 100 lakes.
Carinthia is home to the longest gondola lift in Austria, the four-mile
three-stage Millennium Express at Nassfeld, and offers guaranteed snow
on the slopes of the Molltal glacier. And all the slopes in the
province are covered by the Top Ski Carinthia ski pass.
Access
is much easier now with Ryanair services from Stansted to Klagenfurt.
And prices seem a little cheaper in hotels, bars, restaurants, shops
and ski schools than in many other parts of the Alps. Carinthia's
future, like its weather, is looking bright and sunny.
