Carinthia - Austria - page 586

WORTH A TRIP
WEISSENSEE
Wedged within a glacial cleft in the Gailtal Alps with mountain ridges flanking its northern and southern shores,
the Weissensee is Austria's highest swimmable glacial lake, the least developed of Carinthia's large lakes, and a
spectacular and peaceful nature reserve. It stretches as a turquoise and deep-blue slither for almost 12km and in
most parts is about 1km wide. Because it's at an altitude of 930m, the water is cooler than the Wörthersee, but in
July and August you can expect temperatures of above 20° in most parts.
Consider staying in Naggl , a small settlement on the southern shore about 3.5km from Techendorf, as it has a
quiet shoreline, low-key accommodation options, and good access to hiking and mountain-biking trails.
With its large network of forestry tracks, the Weissensee has some great hiking trails to Almhütten (meadow
huts) on easy return day walks. Trail 27 can be picked up from the boat landing at Paterzipf (near Naggl) on a
walk to the Hermagorer Bodenalm ( 0650-400 2488; Bodenalm; per person half-board €32, mains €8;
closed Oct-Apr) farmstay and beyond to Dolomitenblick at the eastern end of the lake. There you can catch a
boat back to Techendorf.
From the top of the chairlift, Bergbahn Weissensee (Techendorf; one way adult/child €8.60/5.30;
9am-5pm, closed Mon May, Jun & Sep, closed early Mar-mid-May & early Oct-Nov), a walk to the farmstay,
Kohlröslhütte ( 0664-8850 1860; www.kohlroesl.at ; above Techendorf in Gailtal Alps; per person full board
€31, snacks €4-11; mid-May-mid-Oct; ) takes you from Naggler Alm ( www.naggleralmut.at ; Naggler
Alm; mains €8.90-14.50; 9am-5pm Tue-Sun, closed Nov-Apr) restaurant across lush alpine meadows to the
other side of the ridge. Here you have fantastic views into the Gitschtal (Gitsch Valley) and over to dramatic
peaks. Both of these walks are also suitable for mountain bikes.
The tourist office ( 04173 2220-0; www.weissensee.com ; Techendorf-Süd; 8.30am-12.30pm &
1.30-5pm Mon-Fri, 9am-noon & 4-6pm Sat, 10am-noon & 4-6pm Sun, closed Sat & Sun mid-Sep-mid-Jun) can
help with addresses for diving, sailing, canoing and kayaking, as well as with accommodation on the lake.
The nearest train station is Greifenburg-Weissensee, 11km from the lake on the Villach-Spittal an der
Drau-Lienz line. From there Mobil Büro Hermagor ( reservations 0800 500 1905; www.mobilbuero.com ;
one way €7; mid-May-late Sep & mid-Dec-Feb) runs a bus service to/from your place of stay on the Weis-
sensee. It's for overnight guests only. Book by telephone or online by 4pm the day before. Day guests can buy a
day pass (€7) but only to Hotel Kreuzwirt, 4km from Techendorf. You can pick up the free but often infrequent
Naturpark bus from there.
To reach the lake by car, take Bundestrasse 87 from Greifenburg or Hermagor. From Spittal an der Drau, a
road (L32) runs to the eastern end of the lake but ends there.
Boat services run by Weissensee Schifffahrt ( www.schifffahrt-mueller.at ; 1-7 stops €2.50-7, round trip
€10.50; mid-May-early Oct) run to all stops between Techendorf and Dolomitenblick three to 11 times
daily, peaking in July and August.
Activities
Lienz has 64km of groomed cross- country trails. It also hosts the Dolomitenlauf cross-
country skiing race, which is held in mid-January.
The fast-flowing rivers, narrow gorges and forests of the Dolomites around Lienz are
the perfect place for adrenalin- pumping sports, including rafting and canyoning. Expect