Pension Seeheim
Weissensee - Techendorf 34
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Weissensee is an alpine lake of extraordinary beauty located in the heart of Austrian Carinthia, at an altitude of 930 metres. It is considered the purest lake in Austria with a water quality that reaches the drinkable category. With a length of 11.6 kilometres and a maximum width of 900 metres, this natural jewel is surrounded by just 800 inhabitants distributed in small hamlets that maintain Alpine authenticity and respect for the environment.
The lake has the distinction of being one of the most sustainable destinations in Europe, where mass tourism is deliberately limited to preserve the unique ecosystem. The crystal-clear waters reach temperatures of 24°C in summer, making it perfect for swimming, while in winter it transforms into Europe’s largest natural ice rink with a 6.5-square-kilometre ice surface that is perfectly safe for skating, ice hockey and ice sailing.
The Weissensee valley is surrounded by the Carnic Alps and the Gailtal Alps, with peaks of over 2,000 metres, creating a natural amphitheatre of rare beauty. The landscape is characterised by pristine fir and larch forests, flower-filled alpine meadows and traditional alpine huts where cheese and local specialities are produced according to recipes handed down through generations.
The area is a Natura 2000 protected area and represents a virtuous example of sustainable tourism, where every activity is designed to minimise environmental impact and preserve the purity of the water and the biodiversity of the area, making it an ideal destination for those seeking authenticity and genuine contact with Alpine nature.
Lake Weissensee represents a unique ecosystem in the Eastern Alps, with water so pure that it is drinkable without any treatment. This natural reservoir of glacial origin reaches a maximum depth of 99 metres and maintains a constant temperature of 4°C at the bottom throughout the year, creating ideal conditions for a valuable fish fauna that includes Arctic char, lake trout and exceptionally large whitefish.
Swimming is possible from May to September, when the surface waters reach 24°C, offering a crystal-clear quality that allows the bottom to be seen down to a depth of 8 metres. The natural shores are free of concrete and artificial structures, keeping the habitat for numerous species of water birds intact. The lake is navigable exclusively by electric boats, rowing boats and sailing boats, guaranteeing absolute silence and the preservation of the ecosystem. During the winter, when the ice reaches a thickness of 40 centimetres, the lake becomes Europe’s largest natural ice rink.
The Slow Trail Weissensee is a 55-kilometre panoramic trail completely around the lake, designed according to the principles of slow tourism to allow environmentally friendly enjoyment. The trail, which is divided into 11 easily accessible stages, passes through protected biotopes, centuries-old forests and old Carnic farms where life still flows according to traditional rhythms.
Along the trail there are 14 viewpoints equipped with benches and information panels illustrating the flora, fauna and geology of the area. The trail includes wooden footbridges that cross wetlands where rare species of migratory birds nest, while nature observation posts allow the local fauna to be spotted without disturbing them. Particularly suggestive is the section along the south bank, where ancient smuggling paths wind through centuries-old larches and offer spectacular views of the Carnic Alps. The trail can be walked all year round, with winter variants on snowshoes that allow you to admire the frozen lake in absolute silence.
The Weissensee Visitor Centre is an eco-friendly structure built entirely of local wood that serves as a gateway to understanding the lake ecosystem. The building, which is powered by renewable energy and equipped with rainwater harvesting systems, houses interactive exhibitions on the glacial formation of the lake, exceptional water quality and environmental conservation strategies.
The centre organises guided tours with experienced biologists and naturalists who explain the secrets of local biodiversity, from the microalgae that maintain the purity of the water to large predators such as the golden eagle that nests on the surrounding cliffs. A freshwater aquarium recreates the underwater habitat of the lake, allowing visitors to observe native fish species up close, while an educational laboratory offers the opportunity to analyse water samples and understand the parameters that determine the exceptional quality of the Weissensee. The centre also houses a library specialising in alpine ecology and environmental conservation.
The Naggler Alm is a traditional alpine hut located at an altitude of 1,520 metres, which can be reached via a 4-kilometre panoramic path from the shores of the lake. This perfectly preserved 17th century structure, still active in cheese production, represents an authentic example of the traditional alpine economy and offers a unique gastronomic experience in the mountains.
The malga produces Carnic cheeses using milk from the Pinzgauer cows that graze on the surrounding alpine meadows, rich in over 200 species of herbs that give the dairy products their distinctive flavour. The hut-restaurant serves traditional Carnic specialities such as Kärntner Kasnudeln (potato and cheese ravioli), Reindling (traditional walnut cake) and Almschnapps distilled from locally harvested alpine herbs. The panoramic terrace offers a 360-degree view from the lake below to the peaks of the Julian Alps on the border with Slovenia. During the winter, the alpine hut can be reached by snowshoe and organises traditional evenings with Carnic folk music.
The Stockenboi Nature Reserve covers 340 hectares in the eastern part of the lake and is one of Carinthia’s most important moorland ecosystems. This protected area is home to over 180 different bird species, including 65 breeding birds, including the rare bittern and kingfisher, which find an ideal habitat here thanks to the pure waters and abundance of fish.
The 3.2-kilometre-long nature trail leads through reed beds, peat bogs and riparian forests, equipped with camouflaged observation huts that allow fauna to be spotted without disturbing them. Particularly interesting are the floating platforms that lead into the heart of the wetland, where rare wild orchids and carnivorous plants adapted to the marsh environment grow. The reserve is also home to a stable population of European beavers, reintroduced in the 1990s, whose natural dams help maintain the hydrological balance. A ringing centre constantly monitors the migratory routes of the birds, providing valuable scientific data for species conservation.
Techendorf is the main village of the Weissensee with a population of 350. It is a small centre that perfectly maintains the traditional Carnic architecture with stone and wooden houses with characteristic sloping roofs. The village is home to the St. Daniel Church, a jewel of Romanesque art built in the 12th century on a promontory overlooking the lake, considered one of the oldest and best-preserved religious buildings in Carinthia.
The church houses medieval frescoes from the 13th century depicting scenes from the life of St Daniel and the martyrdom of the early Christians, while thewooden Gothic altar from 1480 is decorated with polychrome sculptures from the Salzburg school. The 35-metre-high Romanesque bell tower houses a bell from 1423 that still rings today, summoning the small local community. The adjoining cemetery contains historic gravestones carved in local Carnic stone and offers an exceptional panoramic view of the lake and surrounding mountains. During the summer, the church hosts early music concerts that take advantage of the Romanesque building’s exceptional acoustics.
Techendorf is the main choice for those wishing to stay in the heart of the tourist area of the lake, with panoramic hotels right on the shore and family-run guesthouses offering traditional Carnic cuisine. This location provides immediate access to nature trails and lake activities, as well as concentrating the main tourist services.
Weissensee Ort, the small village on the eastern shore, offers quieter and more secluded accommodation in eco-sustainable structures using renewable energy and local materials. The alpine huts in this area are ideal for those seeking an immersive experience in nature, surrounded by forests and with direct access to mountain trails.
Stockenboi, on the southern side, offers agritourisms and traditional masi where you can experience authentic Carnic hospitality, often with the possibility of participating in agricultural activities and the production of local cheeses. This area is perfect for families seeking genuine contact with Alpine rural traditions.
Weissensee can be reached from Villach via the B111 state road, which winds for 25 kilometres through the Gail Valley, a scenic 35-minute drive through unspoilt Alpine landscapes.
From Klagenfurt, the distance is 65 kilometres, which can be covered in one hour by car. The nearest railway station is Greifenburg-Weissensee on the Spittal-Lienz line, from where buses run to the lake in 15 minutes. Access with private vehicles is regulated to preserve the environment, with dedicated parking spaces and electric shuttles connecting the various locations around the lake.
Weissensee is located in Austrian Carinthia, 930 metres above sea level in the Gail Valley, 25 kilometres from Villach and 65 kilometres from Klagenfurt. The lake is located 15 kilometres from theItalian border and 25 kilometres from Slovenia, in the heart of the triangle of the three Germanic, Latin and Slavic cultures. The strategic location in the Carnic Alps makes Weissensee easily accessible from the main cities in southern Austria and Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
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