Austria / Carinthia / Villach – Lake Faak – Lake Ossiach Region / Camping:

Villach’s lake region makes for happy campers!

How about a refreshing swim in the lake before breakfast? Camping holidays are currently enjoying a renaissance in southern Austria – and bring back childhood memories.

Camping has always been a popular alternative to a holiday in a hotel. And in the heart of Carinthia, where you can feel the Mediterranean making the climate milder and joie de vivre greater, you will find everything that turns an outdoor holiday into an experience. In fact, the 29 campsites in the Villach – Lake Faak – Lake Ossiach Region are virtually unbeatable when it comes to comfort and amenities. They range from the very latest in infrastructure and washrooms to restaurants, supermarkets, sports facilities and varied leisure programmes for visitors of all ages.

Holiday on the lake. Summer means sunbathing and swimming, particularly for children. And with its more than 200 lakes Carinthia still stands for those wonderful carefree days of holiday fun that many parents cherish from their own childhoods. Most of the holiday parks in and around Villach even have a beach of their own: two are to be found on Lake Afritz, seven are located round Lake Faak, 16 in the Lake Ossiach area, two near Villach and two others in the Gail Valley. The water in the lakes is so clean that you can drink it and can reach temperatures of up to 28 degrees in summer. Ideal for swimming, but also for sailing, windsurfing, canoeing or water skiing – or simply sitting in a quiet cove with a fishing rod in your hand.

Town and mountains. If you enjoy exercising outdoors, you can go Nordic walking, running and biking along the shores of the lakes or perhaps even train for your next triathlon. For longer walks with the added bonus of breathtaking views over the many lakes, head for the surrounding mountains: Gerlitzen Alpe, Verditz, Dreiländereck, Mittagskogel and Dobratsch Nature Park. The heart of the region is Villach on the River Drau with its attractive pedestrian zones and cafés. Here you will soon see Carinthians know how to enjoy life and have fun. Like at the famous Villach Fair (Kirchtag), which draws almost half a million visitors from all over the world every August.

Highest standard. The renowned German ADAC camping guide includes 19 local sites and has even rated seven as being a tip for 2016, officially testifying to the feel-good factor of a camping holiday in and around Villach. The seven best meet the requirements for an ADAC classification of four or four-and-a-half stars with facilities hardly leaving anything to be desired. Six sites also boast the ADAC environment award.

In addition, four campsites in the region have also earned the Carinthian quality mark for their excellent quality and hospitality: Camping- & Strandbad Ossiacher See, Seecamping Berghof, Strandcamping Gruber and Terrassen Camping Ossiacher See.

Renting instead of buying. Current trends are towards staying at a holiday park, even if you don’t have your own equipment: in many places in the Villach – Lake Faak – Lake Ossiach Region you can rent a caravan on site. Comfortable mobile homes with enough room for the whole family are particularly popular. Many campsites also have self-catering flats and tents for hire.

Holiday fun whatever the weather. And if the sun takes a break, there is action to be had at the KärntenTherme water park in Villach-Warmbad every day. Apart from the extensive gym and spa facilities, several water slides and tube rafting in the Crazy River will keep all ages amused for hours on end. Just as much fun for families: Monkey Mountain and the birds of prey shows at Landskron Castle, the Terra Mystica show mine in Bad Bleiberg – or a day trip over the nearby border to Ljubljana or Bled in Slovenia or Udine and Venice in Italy.

Experience included. If you want to make the most of your holiday, we recommend the free Erlebnis CARD (2 May to 31 October). Led by professional guides, you can then explore the region’s most scenic hiking trails, bike tours and beauty spots – up to five different activities are organised every day! And if that is still not enough for you, you can top it up with the Kärnten Card and enjoy free admission to over 100 sights and attractions throughout Carinthia. The card is available for one, two or five weeks from 10 April to 26 October.

Information and bookings:

Region Villach Tourismus GmbH

Töbringer Str. 1 • 9523 Villach-Landskron • Austria

Tel: +43 4242 42000–0 • Fax ext: 42

E-mail: • www.region-villach.at

You can find our digital picture archive at www.region-villach.at!

Spring / Summer 2016

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