Glan

The Glan is a clear river in southern Austria. It begins north of Wörthersee beneath the Ossiach Tauern and flows forty kilometres northeast. Passing Feldkirchen and the ruined castle at Glanegg, it reaches Sankt Veit where it turns south. Through the Zollfeld Valley, once the heart of the Carinthian duchy, it continues to Klagenfurt, the state capital. The river was first named in a 10th-century deed signed by Emperor Otto II. Its Celtic name means ‘bright and clear’, matching the water’s colour. Near Ebenthal it meets the Glanfurt and bends eastward before joining the Gurk. The route traces over a thousand years of Carinthian history. Visitors walk paths beside the river through quiet valleys and parkland. The ruined castle at Glanegg stands above one bend, offering views over meadows. In Klagenfurt the river passes the old ducal centre and modern gardens. Its banks provide shaded walks and spots for watching kingfishers.