Discover Gatschach at Lake Weissensee

Gatschach combines paths through forests and countryside with views across Lake Weissensee and the surrounding mountains. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home here as a base for their trip can choose between different types of routes: from the easy circular trail along the bee educational trail to the more demanding tour to the Gatschacher Weide. There is also a Late Gothic branch church and a historic travel episode from 1485.

Circular trails for different day plans

The Weissensee bee educational trail is a circular route from the village square in Gatschach along the northern forest path towards Techendorf and back via an easy hiking trail. Along the way, you can observe a display beehive, experience bees up close and learn more about their work and lives. The bee educational trail begins at St. Martin's Catholic Church in Gatschach.

Those who prefer a longer route through the countryside will find a trail from Praditz to Ronacherfels along the northern forest path, leading through the forest and partly along the edge of the woods. It passes through Oberdorf, Gatschach, Techendorf and Neusach before reaching Ronacherfels. The LS_W1 “Praditz” and LS_W2 “Urschitz” routes are also available for day planning. LS_W1 follows the northern forest path westwards and returns to Gatschach via the northern lakeside promenade. The route is mostly flat on the sunny side and includes a few short, gentle climbs. LS_W2 also follows the northern forest path westwards and returns via the lakeside promenade; along the way, it offers views of the lake and the surrounding mountains.

Views of the lake and a more demanding climb

Trail 3 “Tschabitsch” also adds a scenic highlight. It starts at the lakeside promenade level with Hotel Wiesenhof in Gatschach, follows the lakeside promenade and offers beautiful views of the lake and the surrounding mountains. The LS_W3 “Tschabitscher” route leads from the starting point in Gatschach along the northern forest path to the Tschabitscher adventure farm.

Another option is route W7 “Around the Gatschacher Weide”. After a demanding final climb of 300 metres with short grassy sections, it reaches its highest point at 1,130 metres. When planning, this allows you to distinguish between mostly flat routes with short climbs and a tour with a considerably more challenging final ascent, without assigning all routes a single uniform level of difficulty.

Church and historic traces

St. Martin's branch church in Gatschach is a Late Gothic building. It was first mentioned in documentary records in 1485 and was given a Baroque makeover in the 17th century.

Another historic trace leads to 3 November 1485. On that day, Paolo Santonino, secretary to Pietro Carlo, the Archbishop of Caorle, visited Gatschach at the “lacus albus” (Lake Weissensee). There, he was served delicious lake trout of exceptionally large size. The episode shows that even then, the village was connected with the lake and its regional culinary culture.

Guidance for choosing your accommodation

A short-stay parking zone is designated at the village square in Gatschach. When choosing your accommodation, you can first consider which daily rhythm suits your trip: an easy circular trail with insights into the world of bees, mostly flat routes with views of the lake, historic discoveries or a challenging ascent to 1,130 metres each offer a different focus. A holiday apartment in Gatschach is therefore a suitable search option for anyone wishing to include the village and the routes mentioned in their personal travel plans.

Other places to include in your search

If you would like to compare other places alongside Gatschach, you can continue your search here: Söbriach, Oberkolbnitz, Lendorf, Millstatt, Asten, Heiligenblut Am Großglockner, Trebesing and Kolbnitz.

For the higher-level travel overview: Spittal An Der Drau.