The Nockalm Road runs for 34 kilometres between Innerkrems and Ebene Reichenau. You can travel along the road by car, motorcycle or bus. Nature and learning come together along the route, where you will find numerous free exhibitions and themed trails. The Nockalm Road is also home to the largest contiguous stone pine forest in the eastern Alps.
Hikes of Different Durations
Around Lake Falkert, short and longer hikes can be found side by side. The walk around the lake takes about 30 minutes, while the circular route Falkertsee–Moschelitzen–Falkertsee is considerably longer, at three to four hours. Lake Falkert is also a starting point for many short hikes and day hikes. These time estimates help you gauge the length of each route without treating them as equivalent.
On the Turracher Höhe, the Three Lakes Trail passes Lake Turrach, Grünsee and Schwarzsee. Designed as a family hiking experience, the trail features information boards sharing fascinating facts about alpine nature, flora and fauna. Along and around the trail, local innkeepers serve Carinthian and Styrian specialities, Brettljause (a traditional platter of cold cuts and other snacks), regional delicacies and stone pine schnapps.
The Heidi-Alm children’s adventure park on Falkert also features a circular trail, with more than 100 figures positioned along the route in a themed park. In Steuerberg, another circular trail leads from there to St. Johann Church, continues to the Böseisteiner Waterfall and loops back around Lake Goggau. The waterfall is considered a special natural gem in Steuerberg. Well-marked, numbered hiking trails also lead through the surrounding area from Steuerberg and Wachsenberg.
Lakes and Nature Through the Seasons
The activities available at Lake Goggau change with the seasons: in summer, the lake invites you to swim, fish and go boating; in winter, you can go ice skating. Conditions for seasonal activities may vary. Lake Maltschach offers a different focus: motorboats are not permitted there. One section of the Slow Trail leads through the vineyards of the Trippelgut estate; benches, a viewing platform and information boards are also part of the route. The lake’s undeveloped shores provide a habitat for protected bird and fish species.
The Bleistätter Moor nature reserve offers another way to experience nature. More than 100 different bird species live there, along with butterflies, bats and beavers. The size of Lake Ossiach, meanwhile, can be described using two different measurements: it is 11 kilometres long and has a shoreline measuring 25 kilometres. A circular route around the lake can be cycled. Glanegg also has a dedicated network of bridleways, as well as well-maintained, forested hiking and cycling trails.
Cultural Sites and Living Traditions
Glanegg Castle has a history spanning more than 900 years. It was an important fortress and aristocratic residence. In Feldkirchen, the Bamberger Amthof now serves as a cultural and event centre. The Amthof Museum’s collections cover prehistoric eras, Roman times and Gothic objects; other topics include mills, flax and linen, customs and traditional dress.
Ossiach Abbey was founded in 1024 and is associated with a Romanesque abbey church and Baroque works of art. The Carinthischer Sommer music festival was founded at the abbey on Lake Ossiach in 1969. Another cultural tradition takes place in St. Lorenzen, a place of pilgrimage: on 15 August, a pilgrimage travels from Ebene Reichenau to St. Anne’s Church in St. Lorenzen. This is followed by a large outdoor day celebrating local customs, without amplification and featuring the old tradition of wrestling.
Practical Information
For the Nockberge Biosphere Park, the Feldkirchen in Kärnten administration lists Feldkirchen as the nearest train station and Ebene Reichenau Ort/Friedhof as the bus stop. The Nockmobil can be booked between 08:00 and 20:00; check the current booking rules before travelling. The park administration provides visitors with hiking maps, nature information and the current events programme, as well as information on accommodation, dining and excursion destinations in the area around the biosphere park.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Albeck, Lake Falkert, Hochrindl, Turracher Höhe, Feldkirchen in Kärnten, Gnesau, Himmelberg, Ossiach, Steindorf am Ossiacher See, Sankt Urban, Sankt Leonhard, Glanegg, Liebetig, Poitschach, Hochrindl-Kegel, Rennweg, Briefelsdorf, Oberboden, Reichenau, Alt-Ossiach, Steuerberg, Hinterkoflach, Simonhöhe, Bodensdorf, Vorwald, Retschitz, Agsdorf, Stiegl, Hochrindl-Alpl, Wiedweg.
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