Wörthersee

Wörthersee is a long, narrow lake in southern Austria’s Carinthia region. It stretches about sixteen and a half kilometres from Klagenfurt in the east to Velden in the west. The lake lies in a basin framed by the Gurktal Alps to the north and the Karawanks range to the south. Dense forests climb the lower slopes, while snow-capped peaks rise above them in the distance. Its water is a bright blue-green and unusually clear. Three basins divide the lake, separated by islands and peninsulas.

The lake became a fashionable summer retreat in the 19th century when the railway reached Klagenfurt. Vienna’s aristocracy and wealthy middle class built villas along the northern shore. Velden and Pörtschach grew into the main resorts, earning the area the nickname ‘Austria’s Monte Carlo’. The warm, clean water still draws visitors in July and August when temperatures reach twenty-five degrees. Many return each summer or own holiday homes nearby. Most guests come from Vienna, northern Germany and the Netherlands.

The northern shore is lined with towns, a motorway and a railway, while the southern side remains quieter. In winter the region often lies under snow and the lake freezes over roughly every ten years. Passenger boats link the lakeside settlements in summer, and a cycle path runs along the northern edge. The lake supports pike and whitefish, and speedboats are limited to protect swimmers and wildlife.