Rosental

The Rosental is a valley in southern Kärnten through which the Drau river flows. It stretches about forty kilometres from the Drau loop near Rosegg in the west to the mouth of the Vellach in the east. The Sattnitz ridge rises to the north and the Karawanken mountains to the south. The Periadriatic Fault runs through the valley in a west–east direction, marking a boundary between tectonic plates.

The valley has been settled since at least the ninth century, when the name Rasa appears in records. The lords of Ras built Altrosegg castle on the hill above Rosegg. Later the upper valley was called Rastal, and today the region is home to several villages including Ferlach, Feistritz and Finkenstein. The Rosental railway still carries steam-hauled excursion trains in summer, linking Weizelsdorf with Ferlach.

Visitors can ride the restored steam trains through the valley. At Ferlach the Historama transport museum shows historic locomotives and carriages. The valley is also known for its Carnica bee honey, which has been entered in the register of traditional foods. Guided walks and historical publications describe the villages and their churches along the Drau.