The Lake Region of Carinthia, Austria

Several years ago when we were planning a trip to Austria I did a lot of research on the beautiful mountain and lake region of Carinthia where we intended to visit but ultimately did not.  I see no reason not to share my information with others, even without being able to give firsthand recommendations.  Of course I'll have to borrow a few Google images, since I don't have any photos of my own.

What I found very appealing about this area, is the many, many bathing lakes (as opposed to the usually frigid lakes in the Alpine regions) ideal for families and children.  Seems the most popular are the Wörthersee (See means lake in German), Millstätter See, Ossiacher See and Faaker See.

Klagenfurt, the capital of Carinthia, and Villach are the largest towns in the region and can be used as a home base for exploring other lakeside villages.  Most train connections will come through Klagenfurt or Villach.  There are also medieval towns like Friesach and Gmünd nearby if you prefer to station yourself in a smaller, more charming place.  Besides sunny beaches on crystal-clear bathing lakes, in Carinthia you can explore cathedrals (Gurk or Maria Saal), abbeys (St. Paul's, Millstatt or Viktring), castles and palaces (Hochosterwitz, Griffin or Porcia).

Burg Hochosterwitz near Klagenfurt.

Photo credit:  www.magellanworld.net

In my research I noted interesting towns as well as hotels, which I probably singled out at the time because they are family-friendly.  Here's a general regurgitation that might help you with your planning to visit Carinthia, Austria:

On the Wörther See:

Velden
    Hotels:  Seehotel Europa, Hotel Goritschnigg, Hotel Post-Wrann, Hotel Kärntnerhof, Hotel Schönblick (has a nice beach), Hotel Samonig, Flairhotel am Wörthersee, Seehotel Engstler, Seehotel Hubertushof, Seeschlossl Velden, Golf Parkhotel, Familienhotel Villa Flora

Velden on the Wörther See
Photo credit:  www.casino-urlaub.at

Pörtschach
    Hotels:  Striedinger’s Lust & Laune Hotel, Werzer’s Hotel Resort Pörtschach, Hotel Schloss Seefels, Ferienhotel Wörthersee, Strandvilla Seefried

Krumpendorf

Techelsberg

Moosburg
    Hotels:  Gasthof Liebetegger

Maria Wörth
    Hotels:  Strandhotel Harrich, Pension Seevilla Annelies, Hotel Perdacher

Keutschach
    Hotels:  Familienparadies Reichenhauser

Schiefling


On the Millstätter See:

Seeboden am Millstätter See
    Hotels:  Haus Oberwinkler

Millstatt am See
    Hotels:  Hotel am See Die Forelle, Familienhotel Post, Hotel Postillion am See


On the Ossiacher See:

Alt-Ossiach

Bad Bleiberg

Villach


On the Brennsee:

Heiligengeist

Warmbad Villach

Feld am See
    Hotels:  Alte Hof Brennseehof

Okay, I lied.  I DO have a personal photograph from Carinthia.  Let's just call it vintage:

Me, in the back of the boat, with relatives on the Wörthersee in 1971.