The best family-friendly hikes and walks in Bezirk Klagenfurt-Land

The freely accessible Hochwart Castle ruins, also known as the "Black Castle," serve as a reminder of the dramatic end of the once mighty fortress of the Counts of Celje, whose line died out in 1456. Destroyed in a succession dispute, the castle was never rebuilt; today, parts of the main tower and walls of the 12th-century chapel still stand in the forest. However, the ruins are unsecured and at risk of collapse, situated partly on steep slopes, and the last 600 meters are only accessible on foot.

The Forstsee lake is largely untouched and can be freely used for swimming. Apart from a few facilities, there are no significant buildings or structures. A hiking trail runs around the lake, and on the western shore is a listed section of an ancient road.

A very beautiful, quiet path. And it's even a listed historical monument, because an ancient road used to run along here.

At an altitude of 1,157 m lies the Märchenwiese, which is considered one of the most romantic alpine meadows. Due to its uniqueness, the Märchenwiese is part of the Bodental nature reserve.

Spectacular view of the waterfall.

Dogs are allowed on Tscheppasslucht, but for our Great Swiss this trail was still a challenge.

A place made for real-life operettas: the Peter Alexander Pier in Pörtschach not only bears the name of an entertainer, it is one itself. As soon as you step onto the wooden jetty, you involuntarily hum a melody, somewhere between Viennese charm and Carinthian lake romance. The jetty juts confidently into the turquoise waters of Lake Wörthersee – an anchorage for boat trips, memories, and a touch of wanderlust. Behind you is the promenade, in front of you is the open water, which in the sun looks like liquid light. Standing here, you see not just boats, but scenes: the flirting teenagers on the railing, the elderly couple with their cameras, the captain in a white shirt – everything seems like a stage production in soft blue-green tones. "Ahoy at Lake Wörthersee – the Caribbean of the Alps," says a sign. And rarely has a tourist slogan been so apt. Peter Alexander would have loved it.

If the sky isn't overly blue and the mountains aren't in the mood for theatrical thunder, then it lies there like a painted promise: the fairytale meadow in the Bodental valley. A green basin filled with stillness, framed by a wreath of mountains that seems as sharply cut as paper. Anyone who turns around here feels for a moment as if they haven't hiked, but fallen in – into a postcard from a time when the world was still analog. Two hikers lean against the fence and do what one does best here: absolutely nothing. Just look, feel, marvel. The air smells of moss and anticipation, and somewhere in the background a jay calls out its commentary on the day. To the left, the forest begins; to the right, the path disappears into the meadow – as if it had forgotten where it was actually going. A few steps further on, in the shade of the trees, people have built small stone towers. Perhaps as a silent dialogue with the place. Perhaps simply because balance is so easy to find here – even in a wobbly pile of pebbles. And in between: the light. This diffuse, soft light that transforms every needle into an event. The fairytale meadow in the Bodental valley is not a place you have to work for. It simply reveals itself – provided you bring patience and a little humility. For those who arrive loudly remain silent. And those who hurry miss the essential thing: the slowness with which everything here is just right.