Drava Valley in Austria

The Drautal is a broad valley in the Austrian Alps, stretching east from the town of Lienz in East Tyrol through Carinthia to the Slovenian border. It follows the course of the Drau river, which rises west of Lienz and flows eastwards through the Pustertal before entering the Drautal. The valley floor was widened by glaciers in the Ice Age, creating a wide trough that later filled with sediments. Its gentle slopes and fertile soils have long supported farming and settlement, making it one of the most densely populated regions in the Austrian Alps. The Drautal is divided into several sections, each with its own character. From Lienz to the Kärntner Tor the valley widens into the Lienz basin, while further east the Upper Drautal runs to Möllbrücke. Beyond Spittal an der Drau the valley opens into the Villach basin, then continues as the Rosental and Jauntal towards the Slovenian border. Important side valleys such as the Iseltal, Mölltal and Liesertal branch off from the main valley, each offering their own landscapes and routes. Travellers find a mix of lively towns and quiet villages along the Drautal. Lienz sits at the valley’s western end, while Spittal an der Drau and Villach lie further east. The Drauradweg cycle path follows the river from its source to the Croatian border, passing through fields, orchards and small woodlands. In the Rosental and Jauntal, bilingual signs reflect the presence of Carinthia’s Slovene-speaking community. The valley’s gentle terrain and well-marked routes make it a favoured route for cyclists and walkers exploring the heart of the eastern Alps.