Austria / Carinthia / Villach Ski Mountains:
Ready For Winter 2009-10...
Villach's ski mountains are all set for the winter: runs have been
extended, more snow machines installed, hotels renovated and
organisers everywhere are preparing for the winter events.
Sunny ski tour. The Stella Ronda goes right round the mountain. Its
signposted route taking in various lifts and a total of 13 runs has been
specially chosen to guarantee the sunniest conditions. Start off on the
eastern side in the morning and change over to the west in the afternoon.
An added bonus: all the skiers who complete the Stella Ronda in the
coming winter have the chance of winning a car and other prizes.
Dobratsch: for ski touring, walking and cross-country skiing
A few years ago new legislation safeguarding Villach's water supply caused
the lifts to be closed down on Dobratsch, previously a classic ski mountain.
It now attracts people who make their own way up, on foot or on skis, and
have turned the mountain into one of Carinthia's centres for eco -friendly
winter tourism. The elevation gain from Heiligengeist to the Rosstratte car
park at an altitude of 1,732 m is around 800 metres, but some go right up
to the summit at 2,167 m. Rosstratte is also an ideal starting point for
scenic snowshoe walks. One of the footpaths even goes up to the top of
the mountain. Cross-country skiers are also to be found on Dobratsch en
masse. Three trails, Alpen-Arena, Alpengarten and Rosstratte, together
make a 15 km network for both skating and parallel skiing techniques.
Villach-Warmbad / Faaker See / Ossiacher See Tourismus GmbH
Töbringer Straße 1  9523 Villach-Landskron  Österreich
Telefon: +43 / (0)4242 / 42 000  Fax: +43 / (0)4242 / 42 000 – 42
E-Mail: office@region-villach.at  www.region-villach.at
Gerlitzen: gentler run to Klösterle
The run from Gerlitzen down to Klösterle was simply too steep for many
skiers. No problem now: this winter there is also the Klösterle West piste,
which winds its way slightly more gently down the mountain.
Last winter's improvements went down well with the visitors. The
Neugarten Speed downhill run served by the Neugarten 8-seater Carving
Jet chairlift proved to be particularly popular. Also highly rated was the
information on how busy the individual lifts were. Additional monitors will
provide an even better guide in the coming season. Incidentally, you can
use the internet or mobile phone to find out where parking spaces are
available near Gerlitzen.
Dreiländereck: centre for ski races
A new event venue has been opened beside the Dreiländereck chairlift and
will primarily be used for sports. The ski area aims to cement its reputation
as a centre for international ski racing in Carinthia. In the new building race
results can be analysed professionally and prize givings held after the
events.
Cross-country skiing beyond borders. As everywhere in the region,
cross-country skiing is also popular on Dreiländereck. The high spot of the
season is Ski Tour 3, a race staged on 14 February. If you want to take
part, you will need stamina and strong legs, as the free-style race covers
30 kilometres on Austrian, Italian and Slovenian territory. Your efforts are
however rewarded with specialities from the three countries being served
at the finish.
Verditz: for eco-friendly and exciting winter sports
Verditz is renowned for being a mountain where it is particularly easy to
learn how to ski and board, especially with the help on hand from the
instructors at the local ski and snowboard school. Once you have mastere d
the basic skills of the sport, you should at least attempt the 8.5 -km-long run
down to the valley – the absolute highlight on Verditz. The ski area has
also become increasingly popular for ski touring in recent years. Beginners
in particular enjoy coming here to try out their new equipment and see how
fit they are. They generally drive up to the midway lift station and then walk
to the frozen lake, Schwarzsee, at an altitude of 1,800 m. Also at
Schwarzsee there is a 5-km-long panoramic cross-country ski trail. If skiing
is not for you but you still enjoy winter sports and being out in the crisp
fresh air, you should definitely try snowshoe walking. At the end of the day,
by far the most exciting way down Verditz is the toboggan run.
Warmbad-Villach and Bad Bleiberg: two spa resorts in one region
Even the Celts and Romans soaked their weary limbs in the hot springs at
Warmbad-Villach. Nowadays Warmbad is a spa resort with luxury hotels,
therapy facilities, a leisure centre and fun swimming pool that will b e
completely refurbished from February 2010.
Second spring in Bad Bleiberg. Thermal water was only discovered in
Bad Bleiberg a few decades ago, which led to the whole area being
developed for tourism. In recent years facilities have been modernised and
extended. The famous Bleibergerhof has since become the Falkensteiner
Hotel & Spa Bleibergerhof with 108 rooms and suites as well as an
Winter 2009/2010
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extensive spa. Following completion of the extension, the therapy centre
now has 320 beds in the four-star category and an underground health
gallery, which is accessible by lift from the hotel. People suffering from
allergies and respiratory complaints find relief both in it and
Friedrichstollen, another gallery open to the public and accessible from the
village centre.
Shopping – in and out of town
Villach scores with its charming old town, which has a Mediterranean
atmosphere thanks to the many Renaissance buildings. It is at its best in
the festive season when the stalls open up for the Christmas market (21
Nov - 24 Dec), at the masked devil parade on 4 December or on the square
in front of the town hall, which is turned into a large skating rink as soon as
it gets cold enough.
Highly recommendable for visitors to Villach is a stroll through the old town
followed by refreshments in one of the many little bars. After browsing
through the shops in the town centre, real shopaholics can head for the
ATRIO shopping centre located a few kilometres to the south. It covers an
area of 28,000 sq m with 83 shops and 2,000 parking spaces catering for
even the largest crowds. Wonderful for parents: the Capella family play
area where time passes quickly for the little ones while the grown -ups do
their shopping in peace.
Information and bookings:
Villach-Warmbad / Faaker See / Ossiacher See Tourismus
Töbringer Strasse 1, 9523 Villach-Landskron, Austria
Tel.: +43 / (0)4242 / 42 000 - 56, Fax: +43 / (0)4242 / 42 000 - 42
E-Mail: meissnitzer@region-villach.at, www.region-villach.at
You will find our digital picture archive at www.region-villach.at.
Winter 2009/2010
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