Forest, mountains and lakes
Carinthia is the most southern province of Austria and located in the eastern Alps at the border of Italy and Slovenia, the so called triangle. Carinthia is also the land of lakes – there are around 200 bathing lakes. The biggest one is Lake Wörthersee which is surrounded by vineyards and on whose banks is also located the provincial capital Klagenfurt. The deepest lake is the Millstätter Lake with 141 metres. The main river Drava is flowing entire 206 km throughout the country and is especially suitable for rafting or a tour on the hiking trail along the Drava. More than half of the land is covered with forests and in between stand out numerous medieval buildings, like for example Hochosterwitz Castle. Hiking and biking are popular sports, but also winter sportsmen get their money’s worth – in addition to a large number of ski slopes and cross-country ski trails, Carinthia presents with Lake Weißensee also the largest, permanently frozen and best-prepared natural ice surface in Europe. Also the largest mountain of Austria, the Großglockner, with 3,789 m is located in Carinthia and can be explored through the scenically outstanding High Alpine Road. With the prehistoric pile dwellings in the Keutschacher Lake, Carinthia is even part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Regional products and domestic producers
In the valleys Gailtal and Lesachtal there is the world’s first Slow Food Travel Destination. The focus lies on a healthy and conscious food culture with new ways to achieve sustainability and valuable enjoyment. Priority lies on the use of seasonal and regional products as well as the hand-crafted production of best food and their creative refining: to discover old recipes, to create culinary treasures in harmony with nature, to produce sustainable food and to live sincerely sociability. Next to the conscious enjoyment with a view to the future, the culinary look back to the past should also not be missing. After all, the unique Carinthian Alps-Adriatic Cuisine of today has once developed out of the influences from its southern neighbours Italy and Slovenia.
Traditional craftsmanship and typical recipes
Special emphasis lies on the cooperation between producers and traditional restaurants. The focus is on quality-oriented premium manufacturers, honest gastronomy, regional and agricultural producers, real craftsmanship, committed winegrowers, beer brewers and creative refiners. Next to dairy products and cheese, air-dried bacon, mushrooms, game specialities and blueberries out of the forest as well as the Brettljause (cold snack) on a mountain hut are part of the typical and regional products. Wine is also becoming more and more important and is especially cultivated around Lake Wörthersee. Typical regional dishes are of course the Carinthian Cheese Noodles, fresh fish specialties out of the Carinthian waters, the sweet Stockplattln (crullers) and the Reindling, a yeast cake with sugar-cinnamon-filling. It is not only eaten along with coffee, but at Easter also together with ham and at the annual fair together with the Kirchtagssuppe (soup).
