Stage 5: Klagenfurt and the lakes

We are a bit behind in reporting, which is partly because we were quite lazy in the evenings and didn't feel like writing. Also, the Wi-Fi connections in some of the accommodations were so miserable that it took over 5 minutes to upload a single image, which is not fun at all. So these reports are meant to catch up with the past.

Since the enthusiasm for the previous section was somewhat limited, we decided to deviate from the Drau Cycle Path and take a more challenging route to Lake Wörthersee instead.

Now that the predicted summer finally became a reality, we first set off to the Landskron Castle near Lake Ossiach. Since the public transportation connections are rather scarce in Villach as well, we went there by bike and then climbed up the hill to the castle on foot, where we enjoyed a magnificent view of Villach and its surroundings, as well as the western tip of Lake Ossiach.

Once back in the city, we loaded up our luggage and headed to Lake Faak, where we wanted to take a swimming break in the wonderful weather. No one had informed us that this lake is actually located at a higher altitude than Villach, so we had to earn the pleasure with a long and challenging uphill climb in the middle of the midday heat. The reward was a beautiful turquoise lake surrounded by stunning nature. Although we were not alone at the beach, it did not diminish our enthusiasm.

Since we found it nice to have accommodation directly by Lake Millstatt, we had already booked a nice apartment for two nights in advance, although it was not exactly a 'Schloss am Wörthersee' (a famous Austrian TV series), but still a lovely place. Although the charming house was not right by the lake as it seemed on the booking platform :-(, it did have a private beach that can be reached by climbing 115 steep steps. The advantage was the fantastic view. The 'Seehaus Gaby' - a tribute to all the Gabys we know - was truly a gem.

We had to work hard for all the comfort and the wonderful location in Reifnitz on our way there through an alternative route. There were many ups and downs, with more ups due to the summer heat, which is actually not possible given the topography. The landscape was simply wonderful. Just before reaching our destination, we passed by Lake Keutschach, which is also a gem, but our plan to swim in three lakes on the same day was hindered by a nudist campsite and many private properties.

The next day, we visited a main attraction of the area, the Pyramidenkogel. It is a approximately 100-meter-high transmission tower, which was completely redesigned and architecturally fascinating a few years ago and now offers three viewing platforms for visitors at a height of about 80 meters. The panoramic view is unique. From there, we walked back to Reifnitz through the cool forest. In the afternoon, we took a bus to Klagenfurt and once again were surprised by the limited public transportation options, but in this regard, we are simply spoiled. In fact, the city, which has about 100,000 inhabitants, is served by only five buses a day. The provincial capital of Carinthia has a very beautiful city center with spacious squares and many remarkable buildings, and it exudes a very southern charm and an extremely relaxed atmosphere. Later, we visited 'Minimundus', a counterpart to Swiss Miniature in Melide, featuring famous buildings from around the world, with a focus on Austria.

And since we had the huge luck to catch one of the aforementioned five buses with a sprint over 300 meters, we were back in the Wörthersee in a reasonable time for an extended evening swim. The dinner at the Hotel-Restaurant Rosmann, with wine recommendations from the very friendly host, was another culinary highlight of our trip so far.

At this point, a general comment on Austria as a holiday destination: it is scenically beautiful, has very good infrastructure such as excellent cycling paths, and offers many sports and leisure opportunities. Then, of course, there is the outstanding gastronomy with many local specialties and top wines. Furthermore, the price-performance ratio is excellent. But what really makes it stand out is the friendliness of the people. On the one hand, they are totally laid-back and uncomplicated, but on the other hand, very professional and competent. Twice when we stopped with our bikes to orient ourselves, someone immediately approached us and offered help. When cycling through a village or a farm, we were greeted with a friendly hello or servus, and even the cyclists coming towards us greeted us kindly. So, if anyone is considering going on holiday to Austria, there aren't many arguments against it...