Gegendtal Valley

General information

• Carinthia Card  
• Sonnenschein Card
• Gegendtal Valley Wikipedia
• Carinthia tourist information
• Climate
• Wind, waves, weather

Paddleboarding

Although the Gegendtal Valley stretches between Lake Ossiach in the east and Lake Millstatt in the west, it is dominated by the two centrally located lakes. They may be small, but they are very interesting for stand-up paddlers, as they are ideal for short tours of up to an hour. Lake Brennsee is located in the municipality of Feld am See and is relatively busy in summer. It is also a popular windsurfing, sailing, and wingfoiling hotspot, so it can get a bit windy here.

Lake Afritz is a little more relaxed, as it is slightly larger and less built up. In both cases, you paddle on dark but clean water between the sloping flanks of the Nockberge Mountains. If you are looking for larger SUP areas, we recommend the lakes bordering the valley. Compared to the small lakes, Lake Millstatt and Lake Ossiach are more like inland seas with plenty of space and endless options for short and long SUP tours.

Swimming

Lake Brennsee has gravel and grassy beaches with free access on the north and west shores, as well as a small bathing house with toilets. Lake Afritz also offers natural gravel and grassy shores, several free accesses to the water, and a small beach with a jetty. Both lakes warm up to around 25 °C in summer, making them cooler than their larger counterparts at the opposite ends of the valley.

Lake Ossiach scores highly with its numerous well-developed lidos, many leisure activities, and water temperatures of up to 27°C. Lake Millstatt has even more lidos and free access points, boasts excellent infrastructure, and offers stable temperatures of up to 26°C in midsummer.

Worth seeing

The 11-hectare Alpine Wildlife Park in Feld am See is home to a petting zoo with thirty species of animals and several playgrounds. Various adventure worlds ensure a great family outing in an alpine setting.

The Mushroom Museum in Treffen am Ossiacher See displays Europe's largest collection of 1,500 handmade mushroom exhibits and provides information about mushrooms and their ecology. It offers seasonal exhibitions, light and sound shows, and a doll world.

The Granatium is an interactive museum in Radenthein. It invites visitors to search for granet stones and showcases the mining history of the Nock Mountains. A prospecting area makes the visit particularly interesting for children.

A visit to the Granatium is perfectly complemented by a hike to the Granattor (Granet Gate - 2060 m). It was built in 2009 on the Millstätter Alpe from ruby-red granet rock and commemorates the largest garnet deposit in the Eastern Alps.

The Sagamundo – House of Storytelling is located on Lake Millstatt at the foot of the mystical Mirnock Mountain. In an interactive world of surprises, films, and audio stations, young and old alike can encounter over 30 Carinthian mythical creatures – from the Klagenfurt Lindworm to the Lake Millstatt Mermaid to the Mirnock Giant.

At the Kaslab’n Nockberge show dairy in Radenthein, large windows offer a direct view of the production of organic hay milk cheese made from raw cow's and goat's milk. The farm shop sells its own varieties such as mountain cheese, Emmental, semi-hard cheese, and butter, as well as other regional organic products—all handmade and available year-round.

Extra Tips

Every July, the so-called Fish Enjoyment Week (Fisch-Genusswoche) at Lake Brennsee offers fishing trips, cooking workshops, and regional fish dishes. Professional tips from local fish farms and the fish festival round off the experience.

At the end of September, the Nockalmstraßenfest (Nockalm Road Festival) attracts foodies and hikers to the region. This culinary summit on the Nockalm Road offers street food and alpine hikes, among other things.

The Mirnock Mountain (2,110 m) is known as a mountain of power and offers easy hiking trails with panoramic views across the entire Gegental Valley.

The 10 km long  2-lake circuit can be completed as a hiking or cycling tour and connects Lake Afritz with Lake Brennsee. Full of rest stops and great views of the Nockberge Mountains, this route is ideal for a relaxing day trip.

The 128 km long Nockberge-Trail, on the other hand, requires a little more effort. The Gegendtal stage starts near Feld am See, leads through Swiss stone pine forests, and offers overnight stays in huts.

In contrast, the approximately four-kilometer circular trails around Lake Afritz and Lake Brennsee  are much more relaxed. Both offer swimming opportunities and small picnic spots. In the municipality of Afritz, there is also a small waterfall on the Tobitsch Stream, which is easily accessible by car.

For adrenaline junkies, the pump track at Lake Afritz offers a modern bike park on the eastern shore of the lake. It is part of the Nock Lake Trails, ideal for action-packed family activities and offering fun for beginners and professionals alike.

The Waldbühne viewing platform on the Luschan Höhe offers a fantastic view of Lake Millstatt and the surrounding mountains.

Overnight Stay

Camping Bodner
Seestraße 27, 9542 Afritz am See
Phone +43 (0)4247 2579

Glinzner Hotel-Restaurant-Camping
Seestraße 28, 9542 Afritz am See
Phone +43 (0)4247 2133

ApartHotel Seebauer
Untersee 3, 9544 Feld am See
Phone +43 (0)676 5125052

Raderhof
Raderweg 4, 9544 Feld am See
Phone +43 (0)676 4303603

Familien-Sportresort Brennseehof
Seestraße 19, 9544 Feld am See
Phone +43 (0)4246 2495

Familiengut Hotel Burgstaller
Seestrasse 6, 9873 Döbriach
Phone +43 (0)4246 7126

Robinson Landskron
Süduferstraße 69, 9523 Landskron
Phone +43 (0)4242 423460

Gastronomy

Gartenrast
Gartenraststraße 9, 9545 Untertweng
Phone +43 (0)4246 2017

Restaurant im Strandhotel Burgstaller
Millstätterstrasse 14-16, 9544 Feld am See
Phone +43 (0) 6601606476

Plåtzhirsch – Wirtshaus & Bar
Seestraße 18, 9873 Döbriach
Phone +43 (0) 4246 / 29323

Seecafé KAP 4613
Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Straße 330, 9872 Millstatt
Phone +43 (0)664 38 88 318

Charly’s Seelounge
Glanzer Straße 116, 9873 Döbriach
Phone +43 (0) 4246 / 29323