CARINTHIA
The Duchy of Carinthia was for centuries a borderland between the Germanic, Slavic and Romance worlds. In Roman times, Virunum flourished here as the capital of the province of Noricum. In the Middle Ages it developed into an independent duchy before becoming a permanent part of the Habsburg Empire. The "Carinthian spirit" — a blend of stubbornness, hospitality and a quiet connection to nature — has shaped the people of this land for generations. Today folk music, traditional dress and regional cuisine still reflect this deeply rooted identity.
NATURE & CLIMATE
Carinthia's nature has a diversity that is almost unrivalled in Central Europe: to the north the glaciated peaks of the High Tauern with the Großglockner (3,798 m), to the south the forested Karawanken, and in between the Klagenfurt Basin with its almost Mediterranean microclimate. This makes Carinthia a year-round destination — skiing in winter, swimming and hiking in summer, gastronomy and spa breaks in autumn.
CUISINE
Carinthian cuisine is hearty and honest: Kasnudeln (pasta filled with quark and mint), Ritschert (a robust legume stew), Reindling (a sweet yeast cake) and fresh smoked fish from the crystal-clear mountain lakes. Wines from the Klagenfurt and Lienz area round things off — small production but high quality.
HIGHLIGHTS
Klagenfurt with the Lindwurm dragon statue and the Wörthersee lakefront, the Pyramidenkogel viewing tower (360° views), the thermal baths of Bad Kleinkirchheim, Hochosterwitz Castle (one of Austria's most spectacular castle complexes), the Hohe Tauern National Park and the Großglockner High Alpine Road.
