Slow Trail Maltschacher See - large loop

The Slow Trail starts at the public lido at Lake Maltschach - with a parking lot, WC and bathing facilities. There are two variants to choose from: a long loop with a length of around 6.5 kilometers and a difference in altitude of 100 meters, as well as a shortened, 3-kilometer trail with a difference in altitude of only 50 meters.

Both trail variants lead through a unique traditional cultural landscape, past the villages of Maltschach, Mattersdorf and Briefelsdorf, with Lake Maltschach always at the center. The elements of this landscape - the forest, the moor, the meadow, the lake, a vineyard, large trees - invite you to linger, while short meditative texts provide guidance for pausing and recharging your batteries.

The long loop starts at the public lido and goes anticlockwise around Lake Maltschach. For a few hundred meters, the path initially leads along the asphalted municipal road until you turn right onto a gravel path after a small hunter's memorial. After a short climb, you reach the first rest and panoramic area with a viewing platform. Here you can see the idyllic Lake Maltschach in front of the beautiful panorama of the Karawanken and the surrounding forests. The trail continues across a meadow towards the village of Maltschach. Special marsh grasses can be discovered along the way, and a short section of the path has been left as a pure meadow path to protect them. The trail continues through the village of Maltschach above Lake Maltschach along a gravel path to the "village center". From time to time you can see the glistening waters of Lake Maltschach.

In Maltschach, the Slow Trail splits into the "large loop" and the "small loop". To stay on the large loop, turn right and follow the signs. The trail continues through the village until you reach the former "Schülerweg". The partly gravelled nature trail leads above Lake Maltschach along fields, meadows and through forests, with Lake Maltschach always in view. Two rest areas invite you to relax and linger and enjoy the forest and meadows.

Once you arrive in the small village of Mattersdorf, you turn right along the asphalt municipal road for a short distance until the path branches off to the left again into the forest onto a gravel path. After a few minutes, you reach a spacious meadow with the next rest area at the edge of the Mattersdorf pond already in view. This is where the moorland landscape of the Maltschach Slow Trail begins. Over a small wooden footbridge, past the small pond, the trail leads to a wonderful path across the soft moorland soil. Here you can feel the moor directly under your feet.

The next opportunity for a rest is at the edge of the forest, before continuing along a shady forest path to the village of Briefelsdorf. After crossing the municipal road, the path climbs a short distance until it joins the Trippel family estate below Briefelsdorf church.

First you walk through an old orchard and then reach a highlight of the Slow Trail at Lake Maltschach - the vineyard of the Trippel estate. The Slow Trail runs directly through the vineyard and the vines. Hammocks and information about Carinthian viticulture and wine varieties invite you to browse and linger. Of course, nothing stands in the way of a delicious glass of wine on the terrace of the estate, which is right next to the trail.

After the vineyard, you return to the asphalted municipal road and continue downhill towards Lake Maltschach. At the level of the mini golf course of the vacation village on Lake Maltschach, you have the option of walking back through the vacation village to the starting point at the public lido or continuing on the longer route. The lakeside terrace of the vacation village also invites you to relax.

The trail continues straight ahead along the municipal road past a small forest and meadows to the turn-off to the Pension - Jausenstation Hecher. "The next stop here is under the trees.

Now you pass the snack station, where you can also stop for a bite to eat, until you reach the start of the hollow path at the Maltschacher See Keramik workshop. The idyllic tree-covered hollow path leads uphill back to the village of Maltschach. At the end of the path, you have the option of turning left for a stop at the Kölblhof wine tavern (open at weekends in July and August) or continuing along the Slow Trail on the right.

After a few meters you reach the crossroads from the beginning of the loop, where the Slow Trail splits into the short and long version. To get back to the starting point, follow the trail straight on through the village of Maltschach, past the viewing platform and the Jägerdenkmal monument to the public lido and the Maltschacher Seewirt. At the end of the circular tour, the free access to the lake or the cozy lakeside terrace are ideal for refreshment and relaxation.

Important prerequisites for the success of a mountain tour are, in addition to careful study of guides and maps, optimal equipment. The basic equipment includes

Solid, well-fitting mountain or hiking boots with a non-slip treaded sole waterproof and windproof mountain clothing in layers, hiking poles Sunglasses, sun protection Cell phone and hiking map a first aid kit as well as enough to drink and a snack

Correct behavior in the mountains

Careful tour planning based on descriptions and hiking maps is essential for the success of a mountain tour.

It is equally important to correctly assess the mountain experience, fitness, surefootedness, head for heights and resilience of all participants.

Never leave the marked hiking trails and avoid shortcuts.

Find out about the weather conditions before the hike and return to the valley if the weather deteriorates.

The mountains are there for everyone. It is the duty of every hiker to help keep them clean. Take waste down into the valley and protect the flora and fauna.

Always keep dogs under control and on a short lead. If an attack by a grazing animal is imminent, put the dog on a lead immediately.

Austria's farmers make an important contribution to the preservation of our alpine landscape. Visitors are asked to respectfully adapt to this beautiful landscape.

Treat the people who work here, nature and the animals with respect.

Here are the most important emergency numbers in the event of an accident in Austria: 140 Alpine emergency call 144 Rescue emergency call 112 European emergency call (possible from all networks. Switch off your cell phone and dial "112" instead of the PIN after switching it on)

Follow the Turracher Bundesstraße (B95) coming from Klagenfurt or Feldkirchen until the junction in Niederdorf / Sittich. Turn off towards Niederdorf/Sittich and follow the municipal road to Maltschach and then follow the signs to the public lido/restaurant Maltschacher Seewirt.

Coming from St. Veit / Feldkirchen, follow the Ossiacher Bundesstraße (B94) to the St. Martin junction. Turn off onto Klein St. Veiter Landesstraße (L70) and in the village of St. Martin turn off onto St. Martiner Dorfstraße. Follow the St. Martiner Dorfstraße to Mattersdorf and on to Lake Maltschach. Turn left towards the public lido / Restaurant Maltschacher Seewirt.

Rail travel information:www.oebb.at

Carinthia train station shuttle:

Comfortably and directly from the train station to your accommodation with the Carinthia train station shuttle: https://www.bahnhofshuttlekaernten.at/

The starting point of the tour is the free parking lot at the Maltschacher See lido.

Further information about the Slow Trail Maltschacher See can be obtained from the tourist office of the municipality of Feldkirchen:

www.tourismus.feldkirchen.at/de/kontakt

Further information about the hiking area in the region can be found at

www.seeundberg.at/wandern

Region Millstätter See - Bad Kleinkirchheim - Nockberge

+43 (0) 4246-37444, info@mbn-tourismus.at

Culinary delights

What could be better than discovering the culinary side of this natural lake landscape after a leisurely hike? From a traditional regional snack in a tavern to a delicious menu in a restaurant - Lake Maltschach impresses with its culinary diversity and award-winning Carinthian quality wines.

Refreshment stops at Lake Maltschach:

Maltschacher Seewirt - www.seewirt-spiess.com Buschenschank Kölblhof - www.buschenschank-koelbl.at Jausenstation Hecher (guesthouse) - www.pension-hecher.at TrippelGUT winery - www.trippelgut.at Vacation village at Lake Maltschach - www.feriendorf-maltschachersee.at