The Gailtal looks forward to your visit
Hiking, mountain biking, swimming, unwinding or getting active - you can do it all in the wonderful Gailtal valley in Carinthia. Just half an hour's drive from the borders with Slovenia and Italy, Haus Lenz is an ideal starting point for trips to Villach, Klagenfurt, Ljubljana, Trieste or Venice.
Our holiday flat is located in Dellach (Slovenian name: Dole) near Egg in the municipality of Hermagor. Dellach is an extremely popular place name in Carinthia. "Our" Dellach, with its less than 100 inhabitants, is something you are unlikely to find when searching the internet, which is why we have marked it for you on Google Maps. Dellach is a small and very tranquil village. Haus Lenz is situated on a hill right next to the "St Egidius" branch church. The access road is a dead end. You will enjoy your holiday undisturbed by through traffic
Hiking & discovering
Hiking, mountain biking, swimming, unwinding or getting active - you can do it all in the wonderful Gailtal valley in Carinthia. Just half an hour's drive from the borders with Slovenia and Italy, Haus Lenz is an ideal starting point. Experience a fascinating mix of Austria and Italy while hiking in the Nassfeld-Pressegger See region.
The "Hike World" stretches from the Carnic Alps to the Gailtal and Julian Alps and offers an impressive variety with Alpine freshness and Mediterranean charm. Follow in the footsteps of ancient times on themed trails to discover geological wonders and enjoy breathtaking panoramas on mountain hikes to historic alpine pastures or peaks. In this region of mountains and lakes, the hiking fun is limitless.
Hiking in the Gailtal
In water
The main attraction in the summer months is Lake Pressegger See, along with the various mountains and Alpine pastures in the Gailtal valley. You can reach the shores of the lake from Dellach by car in under 10 minutes. There are numerous catering establishments around the lake, including the various lidos. In winter, especially in January and February, the lake is usually frozen over and is used as a huge ice-skating rink (free admission!).
Swimming in the Gailtal
Experience culture
The nearest larger town is the district town of Hermagor, which can be reached by car in less than a quarter of an hour. Of the approximately 7,500 inhabitants of the entire municipality, around 1,500 live in Hermagor itself. Nevertheless, the town, which as the seat of the district administration is of great importance for the entire region, offers several supermarkets, numerous restaurants and pubs, a small but fine pedestrian zone as well as retail shops, doctors and a hospital, DIY stores and car repair shops. In the summer months, markets and festivals take place in Hermagor almost every weekend, including the "Speckfest", which is known far beyond the region's borders. Hermagor is a town that lives largely from tourism and administration. Although there are also a few industrial employers, the majority of people in Hermagor are employed in traditional trades or in the service sector.
Culture & cuisine
In the snow
The "Nassfeld" ski area, also known as the "Carnic ski region", is very well known throughout the region. Several hundred thousand skiers from all over Europe visit the family-friendly ski resort every season. Some hotels have adapted to this onslaught and cater for Alpine mass tourism - with all the advantages and disadvantages that this entails. From Ferienhaus Lenz, it takes around 25 minutes by car to reach the valley station of the ski area, so you are close enough to enjoy skiing every day and can still relax in the evening away from the commercialised après-ski hustle and bustle.
Winter in the Gailtal
Our tips for unforgettable trips
Haus Lenz in the Gailtal is an ideal starting point for excursions and larger tours. Below we have put together some tips for you that we have already tried out (several times) and can recommend with the utmost confidence. So that you know what you can look forward to, we have opened our private photo and film archive.
The colorful & traditional church days in the Gailtal
The Nassfeld - always worth a visit in summer and winter
The Poludnig is the local mountain of Dellach near Egg in the municipality of Hermagor. You can climb the mountain on foot from Dellach. The route leads via the Dellacher Almweg to the Dellacher Alm (approx. 2.5 hours) and requires a good level of fitness. From the Dellacher Alm you continue to the Poludnig Alm (approx. 1.5 hours) and from here it takes another 45 minutes to reach the summit of the 2000 metre high mountain. However, you don't have to be a "superman" to experience the alpine feeling. From Dellach, you drive about 15 minutes by car and then start the "ascent" by car. On a well-maintained but very winding road with 14 hairpin bends, you will reach the Egger Alm in 30 minutes. Here you can park your car and walk to the Dellacher Alm at ground level. Or you can continue directly to the Dellacher Alm or alternatively to the Poldudnig Alm. However, the road ends here. You have to "earn" the last ascent yourself. But it's worth it. From the summit of the Poldudnig you have a marvellous view over the entire Gailtal valley as well as to Italy (the green border with Italy runs along the summit) and Slovenia. To enjoy a day on the three mountain pastures with their free-range cows, horses, sheep and goats, you should allow at least four hours. The ideal times to visit the mountain pastures are summer and autumn. In winter and spring, the alpine pasture is not accessible by car due to the masses of snow, but at best on foot (only experienced snowshoe hikers!). Our insider tips: The Brettljause snack in the Almgasthaus on the Poludnig-Alm is a must-try. The same goes for the Kaiserschmarrn at the Almgasthaus Pipp on the Dellacher Alm.
Lake Pressegg is the bathtub of the Gailtal valley. The body of water with its extensive reed belt is one of the warmest bathing lakes in the Alps. Around the lake you will find all kinds of lidos: from the rather tranquil Paßriach lido to the Presseggersee children's adventure park in the village of Presseggersee. In spring and autumn, the lakeside promenade, much of which runs through the unspoilt reed belt, invites you to take a stroll. In winter, the bathtub of the Gailtal valley is transformed into an oversized ice rink with mulled wine and sausage stands, curling lanes and a constantly prepared skating circuit.
In the summer months, the villages of Gailtal celebrate the church consecration ("Kirchtag"). Especially in the part of the valley where the Slovenian tradition of this border region is still maintained today, the church days are a particularly colourful spectacle. The young unmarried women wear traditional Gailtal costumes, while the boys compete in the "Kufenstechen" equestrian competition in some villages. The following pictures show impressions of the church days in Dellach and the neighbouring village of Mellweg.
The "Nassfeld" near Hermagor, just a 25-minute drive from Dellach, is a paradise for skiers in winter. More than 25 lifts - most of them chairlifts or gondola lifts - distribute the skiers in the ski circus, which takes place on over 40 pistes. Information about winter sports on the Nassfeld can be found here. But the mountain region is also a popular holiday destination in summer. Hiking and mountain bike routes beckon and there is not much to remind you of the colourful hustle and bustle of winter. Instead, visitors can enjoy nature.
Lake Weissensee is located north of Hermagor at the foot of the Gailtal Alps. It is located at 930 metres above sea level and is the highest of Carinthia's large bathing lakes. Lake Weissensee can be reached by car in around 40 minutes. An excursion that is well worthwhile, as you can enjoy a wonderful walk along the shores of the crystal-clear lake. Alternatively, you can explore the lake on one of the large passenger boats or hire a rowing boat or electric motorboat. There are also numerous active sports on offer around Lake Weissensee, such as white water rafting on the Gail or mountain bike tours.
The village of Dellach, which also bears the Slovenian place name "Dole", is located in Austria, but culturally belongs to the Slovenian part of Carinthia. The Slovenian border is only a few kilometres away as the crow flies. It takes around 40 minutes by car to reach the neighbouring EU country. There, a breathtaking tour over the Vršič Pass beckons just after the border crossing. The well-developed, winding and toll-free pass road takes you through the natural paradise of the Julian Alps. You will need around two hours for a complete round trip. However, you should take a little more time and park your car or motorbike more often. Because off the road, you will experience the alpine nature and the eventful history of the region up close.
Moments of pleasure in the World of Mountains & Lakes are simply indescribable. It often needs no words when you sample the region's delicious specialities and sit back to enjoy the taste of the area. From spicy Gailtaler Speck PGI to traditional Gailtaler Almkäse PDO and delicious Kärntner Kasnudeln, the world's first Slow Food Travel Region offers a feast for the senses. In addition to Alpine culinary delights, lovers of Mediterranean cuisine can look forward to fish from clear waters and the Adriatic Sea, thanks to the region's geographical proximity to Italy. The best thing is: whether summer or winter, enjoyment is always within reach in the World of Mountains & Lakes, thanks to numerous huts and ristoranti right in the mountains!
Mit der Inklusivkarte im Gepäck sind euch im Urlaub in der World of Mountains & Lakes beinahe keine Grenzen gesetzt. Zumindest, was das Erleben von Highlights und Aktivitäten anbelangt.