Alt-Ossiach: Moorland and trails by Lake Ossiach

Alt-Ossiach appeals to travellers interested in moorland, birdwatching and cycling or hiking trails. If you’re looking for a hotel in Alt-Ossiach, you can think ahead about whether nature interpretation, a bike tour or a hike will shape your trip.

Moorland and renaturation

The Tiebelmündung–Bleistätter Moor European protected area at the eastern end of Lake Ossiach was flooded in 2017 as part of a major renaturation project. Bleistätter Moor is in Alt-Ossiach. The Ossiach Moor Tower, an observation tower in the moor, is also located there.

Experience nature

The guided birdwatching nature experience tour through Bleistätter Moor provides information about the renaturation project and introduces visitors to the different habitats and the wildlife and plant life of the European protected area. The rich variety of birdlife is a particular focus. The tour thus combines birdwatching with an explanation of the moorland. Check the seasonal dates in advance, as planning details may change.

Cycling trails and shared use

The Lake Ossiach Cycle Path – R2 and R2A runs through Heiligen Gestade, Ostriach, Ossiach and Alt-Ossiach and is also suitable for beginners. The Toghy Trail T02 is a moderately difficult shared-use trail for cyclists and hikers; hikers have priority. The descriptions focus on different aspects: the R2 and R2A name the places along the route and their suitability for beginners, while the T02 description specifies shared use, difficulty and the priority given to pedestrians.

Hiking trails and routes

The Ossiacher See Trail follows the dam path through the Bleistätter Moor nature reserve to Alt-Ossiach. Along the trail, the forest promenade leads to the gorge trail, which is part of the Alpe-Adria-Trail. The Slow Trail variants feature different waypoints: Variant A is an easy circular route through the biodiverse Tiebelmündung nature, landscape and European protected area. Variant B connects Steinhaus Domenig with Ossiach Abbey. Variant A is specifically described as a circular route and rated easy, while Variant B is defined by the connection between two specific destinations.

Stage 20 of the Alpe-Adria-Trail also follows a sequence of waypoints: it leads from the historic Ossiach Abbey back towards Alt-Ossiach and then via the Ossiacher Schluchtweg to Tauernteich. This gives it a different orientation from the Slow Trail variants and the route along the dam path.

Finding your way before the tour

From the town centre, Ossiacher-Tauern Tour No. 12 follows the cycle path towards Alt-Ossiach as far as the primary school, where it turns onto Ossiacher-Tauern-Straße. To compare the route directions, this section can be set against the sequence of the abbey, Alt-Ossiach, the gorge trail and Tauernteich on Stage 20.

The routes therefore differ in their named sections and destinations and—in the case of the Toghy Trail and Slow Trail Variant A—in their explicitly stated difficulty level or rules for use. Check trail signs and conditions before setting out; they may change.

Discover more destinations: Retschitz, Rennweg, Oberboden, Poitschach, Wiedweg, Hochrindl-Kegel, Feldkirchen in Carinthia, Bodensdorf

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