Lake Klopeiner See with its smooth, turquoise water is the star of the region. But its six “brothers” (Turner , Gösselsdorfer, Sonnegger, Linsendorfer , Pirkerdorfer Lakes) with water temperatures of up to 28°C are attractions not just for bathing fans. Families will find their cycle-paradise here up to 1.246 km almost car-free cycle tracks are waiting for you to enjoy the superb landscape.
It’s enough to make a hiker’s heart beat faster: the mountain stars of the region are the gentle foothills of the Saualm, the mighty rocky gateways of the Uschowa and the Hochobir with its majestic panoramic view over Carinthia.
St.Kanzian is located 446m above sea level, with a length of 1800m and a width of 800m, it has a depth of up to 48m. The lake was created during the Ice Age, which was followed by other lakes in the immediate vicinity – the Kleinsee, the Turnersee, and the Gösselsdorfer Sonnegger lake. Because of its vast depth, the Klopeiner See has been best preserved.
Due to the very low movement of the lake streams, the Klopeiner See can reach even up to 27 degrees Celsius in summer time, and is also the warmest lake in Austria. Besides of all the pleasures of beach and bathing, the surrounding area also offers active visitors numerous recreational opportunities: hiking, running, golfing, cycling, fishing, surfing, diving and horse riding. In addition, various events and entertainments are organized around the lake.
For a relatively small town, St. Kanzian offers quite a lot in terms of sightseeing. The best approach to the combination of landscape and history is probably the “Kulturwanderweg Gracara”. It is a theme hiking path derived from the Slovene word for “castle” and leads hikers to some spectacular view points, as well as the most important sites of archaeological excavation. For further information on the local finding of Gracara, you can visit the “Keltenmuseum” (Museum of Celtic Culture).
Within reach, you will find St. Veit an der Glan town and the fortress Burg Hochosterwitz. Carinthia′s capital Klagenfurt is not far, either.
