Rail & Trail "On the trail of the fascination of Lake Klopeiner See"

From the Klopeiner See tourist information office, the trail first leads through the tourist center of Klopein. Later, we walk along the only circular lake promenade in Carinthia to the southern shore. On the narrowing shore, charming lake houses and bathhouses tell of typical Carinthian summer life on the lake. On the right rises the first guardian mountain, the wooded Kitzelberg (686 m). The gentle ascent begins at the campsite and shortly afterwards the iconic photo point "Klopeiner See-Blick" opens up a beautiful view over the lake. We then follow the road up through the forest flank of the second Wächterberg, the Gracarca (672 m). From the saddle, narrow side roads lead across the hidden plateau of the rural scattered settlement of Grabelsdorf - with the mighty Karawanken mountains as a backdrop in the distance. Pure country idyll! It's worth taking a break at the picturesque wayside shrine at the end of the settlement: the sweeping view stretches as far as the imposing rock faces of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps in Slovenia.

Now we enter the beautiful mixed forest of the Gracarca and the final ascent begins. Passing an Iron Age burial ground and burial mounds, we reach the picturesque church of St. Daniel - a cultural gem! Afterwards, atmospheric, sometimes steep footpaths lead up to the elongated forest ridge. Near the summit ridge are the remains of a hilltop settlement that was inhabited from the Iron Age to Roman times - possibly the legendary Celtic capital of Noreia. Who would have thought it? The descent leads us through the wonderful mixed forest, steep in places, down to a hidden saddle. From there, the detour up to the Georgiberg (624 m) begins - our summit! Congratulations! The idyllic pilgrimage church Georgikirche impresses with a magnificent panoramic view over the expansive Jauntal valley. Its wishing bell invites you to pause and reflect.

After descending to the lake, we cross the plain on the lake promenade to the northern shore. For an atmospheric finale, we hike on enjoyable footpaths over the gentle forest ridge on the northern shore back to the starting point.