Oberaichwald: Fox Trail, Aichwaldsee Circular Trail and Local History

Oberaichwald brings together trails, nature education and local history. The Aichwaldsee Circular Trail and the Fox Trail have different focuses; the cross-country skiing route requires separate seasonal planning. The historical references also differ: they range from the renovation of the Oberaichwalderkreuz to the purpose behind the wayside shrine and the former use of the Martinsklause. When planning your trip, you can consider these topics separately and choose a focus based on your interests.

Trails and nature experiences

The Aichwaldsee Circular Trail connects Lake Faak with Lake Aichwald. It first leads through the landscape conservation area to Lake Aichwald and then along the newly designed Fox Trail to Oberaichwald. This describes both the connection between the lakes and the rest of the route via the Fox Trail.

The Fox Trail is a family adventure trail in Oberaichwald, near Lake Faak. At several adventure stations, visitors learn about nature in the languages of the Alps-Adriatic region. Multilingualism is therefore part of the nature education on offer and shapes the trail alongside its stations.

When planning your routes, the two focuses are easy to distinguish: the circular trail connects lakes and follows a named route, while the Fox Trail features adventure stations and nature education. The two are connected along the route, but describe different experiences.

Local history and former uses

The Oberaichwalderkreuz was renovated between April and August 2014 by the Oberaichwald-Latschach traditional customs group, in around 200 hours of work. The timeframe and approximate amount of work provide a concrete context for this community effort. Unlike the wayside shrine, the focus here is on renovation, not construction for a planned purpose.

The Oberaichwald wayside shrine was erected in the early 1980s at the initiative of Ferdinand Jank and Stefan Moser, to create a centrally located village square for residents and guests. Its history includes not only its initiators but also its intended purpose: a central square meant to include both groups.

The so-called “Martinsklause” was an inn and accommodation business above Lake Faak; a railway crossing led to it. Its historical significance therefore includes its former role as a place to eat and stay, as well as the railway crossing. This distinguishes it from the references to the cross and the wayside shrine: the focus here is on a former business and its railway connection.

The two references to monuments also differ in age: the wayside shrine was erected in the early 1980s, while the Oberaichwalderkreuz was renovated in 2014. Thus, an older history of construction stands alongside a much later restoration.

Cross-country skiing route and seasonal status

The “Oberaichwald” cross-country skiing route is rated easy and is currently closed. Check its seasonal status before making plans. Difficulty rating and availability answer different questions: the easy rating does not change the fact that the route is closed.

Discover more destinations: Töplitsch, Treffen Am Ossiacher See, Kerschdorf, Feld Am See, Winkl, Duel, Stöcklweingarten, Arnoldstein

Go to the main travel overview: Villach.