Carinthia (German: Kärnten) is a state ofAustria. It is especially known for its skiing areas, and its fantastic lakes.
— Lake Millstättersee (Millstätter See) the jewel of Carinthia, top for families and sportlovers — skiing resort area at the border with StyriaCarinthia is possibly Austria's most autonomous state (with the exception of Tyrol). Older than Austria itself, it has always been fairly isolated from its surroundings by its geography. Carinthians are rooted and proud, but also have a reputation for being more warm-hearted than other Austrians.
There are several explanations of where the nameCarinthia comes from. For example, it is said to be derived from the Celtic wordcarant, which means friend. Other explanations assume that the name comes from the Celtic wordkaranto, which means stone.
Carinthia is a very mountainous area sandwiched by the Alps in the north, and theKarawanken in the south. It shares a border with bothItaly andSlovenia.
In addition to its natural beauty and ski resorts, Carinthia was briefly known as the home of the far-right politician Jörg Haider, and for a long time his political campaigns had their biggest successes there. Since then, the region has seen one of the most dramatic political shifts in Europe, with left-wing parties regularly winning absolute majorities in local and national elections.
Just across the border, the airport ofLjubljana has a much wider share of international connections. Instead of a connecting flight through Vienna, you could also take the train from there. Graz airport can be reached by car in a little more than an hour from the eastern parts of Carinthia. Meanwhile, Villach is close to Trieste Airport in Italy.
Villach and Klagenfurt are railway-gateways to all parts of Austria, therefore it's easy to get toKärnten from all major cities in Austria. Trains fromVienna andGraz arrive approximately every two hours to each city. Both cities also see a good amount of international traffic thanks to Nightjet trains to and from Italy, as well as ICE trains to Germany.
Take theSüdautobahn (A2/motorway) if your travelling fromStyria orVienna. If you are arriving fromSalzburg take theTauernautobahn (A10/motorway, liable to pay costs).
Driving by car is definitely the easiest way to get around. Be prepared that apart from the main routes mountain roads can especially tricky for those who are not used to driving on mountain roads. This is especially true in winter.
The main railway hubs are located inVillach andKlagenfurt. The region is served by the S-Bahn Kärtern; though most major urban centers are served, frequency of service is irregular.
It might be tiring to get around using the federal bus network because the frequency of buses is low to non-existent on weekends.
Kärnten is known for its ski resorts as well for its scenic lakes and mountains (hiking, climbing). If you are travelling in summer try out one of these lakes:
Skiing resorts includeNassfeld at the Italian border,Turrach at the border with Styria,Flachau andKatschberg both bordering Salzburg. Skiing is a bit cheaper than inTirol andVorarlberg.
Carinthian cuisine is closely related to Italian cuisine and therefore known for all types of noodles. Specialities are
There is a well-known brewery inHirt nearFriesach which make fantastic beer. (Hirter Pils andHirter Märzen) The city of Villach is home to the brewery of the "Villacher" brand of beer.
Like the rest of Austria, Carinthia is a very safe place. The usual precautions when travelling are usually enough.
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