Treffen on Lake Ossiach: Nature, Culture and Active Holiday Days

Treffen on Lake Ossiach combines striking mountain landscapes with unusual cultural sites and a variety of trails. The 12-kilometre Gerlitzen toll road leads from Treffen directly to the middle station of the Kanzelbahn cable car. This means that Gerlitzen Alpe can be taken into account when planning a trip, as can the trails through the forests and countryside around the village.

Hiking, Waterfalls and Gerlitzen Alpe

Gerlitzen Alpe offers hiking trails and mountain huts during the warmer months. In winter, it is a family-friendly ski area. Those who pay particular attention to the change between summer and winter experiences when choosing their holiday apartment will find a clear thematic focus here for planning their trip.

The trail to the three Finsterbach waterfalls offers a different kind of landscape experience. It leads uphill through a forest of spruce and deciduous trees and across four bridges. Along the way are Finsterbachfall, Schleierfall and Kesselfall. The specific route makes this excursion an activity in which forest, water and exercise are closely connected. For a family with different interests, this trail can provide a separate day-trip idea alongside hiking trails, the ski area or cultural sites.

At the Spiritual Forest Trail near the Ortenfelshütte, seven stations invite visitors to experience the forest with all their senses. In Verditz, gentle hikes are possible in summer and snowshoe hikes in winter. This allows different forms of exercise to be included in trip planning without making every day the same.

Sculptures, Puppets and Historic Architecture

Treffen also has a distinct cultural side. The “From the River to the Lake” project of the Krastal Sculpture Trail is an open-air gallery running from Treffen to Weissenstein. The Krastal Sculpture Trail comprises 15 stone artworks. In the historic quarry near Villach, the Krastal artwork provides space for international artists who work with stone and interdisciplinary approaches. The natural setting of the Krastal marble quarry was regularly used for theatre performances in summer.

Another cultural highlight is the Catholic Parish Church of St. Maximilian. The nave walls and the tower foundations that still survive date from the 12th century. Since its renovation in 1812, the interior has been classified as Neoclassical. Anyone wishing to include historic architecture in their holiday days will find a tangible insight here into the village’s long history without giving up the natural focus of the trip.

The Pilz & Elli Riehl Doll Museum is located in the village of Winklern. Many handmade dolls from the former “Elli Riehl Doll World” have found a new home there. This visit provides a special counterpoint to mountain trails, waterfalls and sculptures and can be particularly interesting when holiday days are intended to bring together different interests.

Treffen as a Starting Point for Different Holiday Days

Cyclists can also include Treffen in their plans: the 27-kilometre cycle path around Lake Ossiach can be accessed from Treffen. When looking for a holiday apartment, the desired mix of mountains, cycle paths, forest and culture is therefore the first important consideration. Those who place Gerlitzen Alpe or the waterfalls at the centre of their trip will plan differently from someone who mainly wants to discover sculptures, the church and the doll museum. The experiences mentioned provide concrete guidance without presupposing a particular location or amenities for the accommodation.

For further location options, you can visit Görtschach. Other pages for planning your trip are Feld Am See, Wernberg, Selpritsch, Goritschach, Fahrendorf, Winkl and Velden Am Wörthersee.

For the overarching travel overview: Villach.