Ferndorf: Mirnock, trails and Lake Millstatt

Ferndorf combines landscapes and lakeside scenery with trails for walking or cycling, seasonal activities and protected churches. When choosing your destination and hotel, it helps to consider which of these interests you want your trip to focus on. The municipality encompasses different geographical areas; each has its own features and experiences that you can take into account when planning.

Landscape and lake

Most of the municipality lies in the Nock Mountains (Mirnock-Verditz), and it also includes parts of the lower Drau Valley and the southeastern bay of Lake Millstatt. The mountain area, valley and lakeside bay are therefore different parts of the same municipality. Ferndorf has its own lido on Lake Millstatt. If the lake is important to your travel plans, the lido offers a specific point of reference; at the same time, the municipality extends beyond the lake to include mountains and valley.

Trails for walking and cycling

The Via Paradiso is a 55-kilometre long-distance hiking trail with four stages. On Stage 4, you can explore Ferndorf and the high plateau by bicycle or on foot. The Sternentrail has a different focus: it takes you downhill by bicycle to the shore of Lake Millstatt. When choosing a route, consider whether you prefer a stage that can be covered using two different modes of transport or a downhill cycling tour.

The Mirnock Slow Trail winds through the forest and has viewing platforms overlooking Lake Millstatt. There is also a Kneipp circular trail on Mirnock in the Gschriet-Glanz area. The Via Paradiso focuses on its stages, the Sternentrail on a downhill cycling tour, and the Slow Trail on the forest and lake views. The Kneipp circular trail is another option to include in your plans.

Star Balcony and seasonal experiences

The Star Balcony on Mirnock in Ferndorf, by Lake Millstatt, is a spot where it feels as though you are floating between mountain and lake. This creates a distinct highlight alongside the trail descriptions, which focus on stages, transport or forest scenery.

The Mirnock farmers produce cheese and bacon. From May to October, they prepare a picnic basket for visitors to take on a walk to the Star Balcony. Bear this period in mind if you would like to combine the picnic basket with the walk. In winter, Ferndorf’s snow-covered alpine trails and mountain meadows are turned into scenic toboggan runs; this activity is seasonal. The experiences described also vary by travel season: the picnic basket is available during a specific period, while tobogganing depends on winter conditions.

Protected churches

Protected buildings are also among Ferndorf’s cultural attractions. The Catholic branch church of St. James in Ferndorf is protected as a historic monument by ordinance. The same applies to the Catholic parish church of St. Paul and the cemetery in Ferndorf. These specific cultural and historical landmarks complement the municipality’s nature and trail experiences.

Discover more destinations: Stockenboi, Sankt Andrä, Glanz, Töplitsch, Gerlitzen, Pölling, Gschriet, Wernberg.

Back to the overview of destinations: Villach.