Villacher Alpenarena

The Villacher Alpenarena is a year-round Nordic sports centre in the town of Villach in Carinthia. It stands on the southern edge of the Alps, where the city meets the Karawanken range. The site contains four ski-jumping hills of sizes 15, 30, 60 and 90 metres. A three-kilometre illuminated loop for ski-rollers and cross-country skiing runs through the valley below the jumps. Snowmaking equipment and floodlights keep training and events running from winter into summer. The arena has hosted major international events since the first recorded ski jump in Villach in 1909. After the Second World War Josef Hadwiger rebuilt the complex so that it reopened quickly. In the 1960s the Kärntnerisch-Slowenische Springertournee began here, drawing athletes from Austria and Slovenia. A full rebuild between 1993 and 1995 added mat-covered hills and a new cross-country trail. The FIS World Cup visited six times, most recently in December 2022 for the ladies’ Silverster Tournee. Visitors walk past the four jumps and can watch training sessions or smaller competitions. The illuminated roller-ski circuit is open to the public when not in use for races. Beyond the technical zone, paths lead into the surrounding hills where views stretch across the Drava valley. The arena’s clubhouse and café sit at the foot of the slopes, offering a place to rest after a walk or a short ski.