The scenically diverse region around Lake Klopeiner See is Austria's southernmost holiday region on the border with Slovenia. Due to its basin location within the mountains, the area has a particularly favourable climate.
Cycling and swimming in the south of Carinthia
Lake Klopeiner See is considered the warmest bathing lake in Europe - the lake, which is only 1.8 kilometres long and 800 metres wide, regularly reaches the 20 degree mark as early as May - and in summer the water warms up to 29 degrees. Sankt Kanzian, the tourist centre of the region, is located on the north side of the lake.
Around Lake Klopeiner See, between the rugged limestone peaks of the Karawanken and the Saualpe low mountain range, there are six other lakes and the Jauntal valley with the Völkermarkt reservoir. There are over 300 kilometres of signposted cycle routes and eight themed cycle paths to choose from. Most of the tours are also suitable for families with children.
Cycle-friendly accommodation
Located directly on the shores of Lake Klopein in Sankt Kanzian, Hotel Sonne also caters directly to cyclists. GPS devices with pre-programmed tours are available for hire. 25 bicycles are available free of charge. A selection of trekking and e-bikes is available for a fee. After a bike tour, you can relax in the lakeside sauna on the jetty with panoramic windows (www.sonne-klopeinersee.at). A reasonably priced alternative in Sankt Kanzian is the Agnes bed and breakfast (www.pension-agnes.at).
Bike service
There are various Drau cycle path shuttle offers in the region during the cycling season. Information and booking by e-mail info@kaerntenshuttle.at or the hotline phone 0043/(0)676/84499933. Competent bike service and many hire bikes and e-bikes (even for children) can be found at Bike4You in Seelach.
General information
Tourismusregion Klopeiner See / Südkärnten, Schulstraße 10, A-9122 Sankt Kanzian, phone 0043/(0)4239/2222, www.klopeinersee.at
Tour 9: Four Lakes Tour
On an easy tour through hilly terrain, you circle three of the four lakes and visit the impressive Eberndorf Abbey in the Jauntal valley.
GPS data
You can find the GPX track for this tour in the MYBIKE Collection on komoot
Via the west shore road in Sankt Kanzian, you first roll along Lake Klopeiner See for a while - then take a sharp right through a forest to Kleinsee. Via Steinerberg, the road winds its way up to Sankt Veit im Jauntal. The many bilingual town signs show that the Slovenian language is deeply rooted here. Via Obernarrach and Pogerschitzen, you follow the road to Rückersdorf. The next stage towns are Hart and Sittersdorf, then the route leads through a nature reserve past Lake Gösselsdorf. You can already see Eberndorf Abbey in the distance. From there it is only a few kilometres back to Lake Klopeiner See.
Worth seeing
A detour from Sankt Veit to the bird park at Turnersee, the fourth lake on the tour, is particularly worthwhile with children. Here you can see 300 native and exotic bird species (www.vogelpark.at). The 900-year-old Eberndorf Abbey with its collegiate church is also worth a stop.
Refreshment tip
After the tour, a visit to the Seerose restaurant on the eastern shore of Lake Klopeiner See is a good idea. The restaurant with its garden terrace is located in the centre of the Krainz lido - so you can take a quick dip in the lake before your meal.
Tour 10: Excursion to the Drau
From Lake Klopein via the third largest body of water in Carinthia - the Völkermarkt reservoir. It was created by damming the Drau.
GPS data
You can find the GPX track for this tour in the MYBIKE Collection on komoot
From the information centre in Seelach, the route starts northwards to the parish church in Sankt Kanzian. Turn right here and follow the road to Untersammelsdorf and Sankt Lorenzen until you reach the shores of the Völkermarkt reservoir. The 21 kilometre long and up to 1.5 kilometre wide lake was created in 1961 by damming the Drau. Cycle along the Drau cycle path to the Völkermarkt Drau bridge. Take the cycle path across the lake and turn left again immediately after the bridge. With great views across the lake to the Karawanken mountains, you follow the Drau cycle path through a bird sanctuary to the Tainach Drau bridge. Here you cross the lake again and cycle right over a short ascent to Stein im Jauntal and continue along the Littermooser Weg past Lake Steinsee back to Lake Klopeiner See.
Worth seeing
From the Völkermarkt Drau bridge, it is only a few minutes by bike to the centre of Völkermarkt. The district town lies on a plateau above the dammed Drau and has a beautiful main square with stately town houses and neighbouring alleyways. There is an interesting town museum and a parish church from the 13th century to visit - or you can enjoy the sun in a street café.
Refreshment tip
If you want to take a break with a snack directly at the Völkermarkt reservoir, turn right on the Völkermarkt side of the Drau bridge, after about one kilometre you will find the Schreiber harbour rest stop directly on the Drau cycle path.
MYBIKE video: Cycling in the south of Carinthia
You can find even more pleasure tours in Carinthia in the Travel Special "The most beautiful cycle routes in Carinthia"
