The first stages of the Alpe Adria Trail run through the Hohe Tauern National Park in Carinthia, Austria. Places to eat along the trail will be one of the many highlights of your hike.
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Franz Gerdl
Alpe Adria Trail: places to eat along the trail
Come taste delicious Carinthia!
© Kärnten Werbung
The first few days of the 43-stage Alpe Adria Trail wind through the Hohe Tauern National Park in the Austrian state of Carinthia. If you would like to hike them all, start at the foot of the Grossglockner near the Pasterze Glacier, the tallest glacier of the Eastern Alps. Lots of lovely restaurants, inns and other places to eat along the trail invite you to feast.
The first stage takes you through an impressive alpine landscape to Heiligenblut, which was the most prolific gold mining area in Europe up until the 17th century. Here you can visit the Lenzerhof, a traditional inn with all kinds of Carinthian treats and specialties from the Möll Valley.
On the second stage, hike from Heiligenblut through the Zirknitztal Valley and the mountain village Apriach to Döllach, home of the National Park administrative office. The Döllacher Dorfwirtshaus is home to delicious Carinthian dining beside the trail. Look forward to their excellent homemade dishes!
The third stage takes you from Döllach to the Marterle pilgrimage church. The trail runs through the town of Mörtschach, the perfect place to fill up – why not try Landgasthof Schwaiger or Kirchenwirt? After your meal, hit the trail again until you reach your destination. The church is a symbol of the town of Rangersdorf and is situated at nearly 1,900 metres above sea level.
Restaurants along the trail – delicious Carinthia
Starting from Rangerdorf, the fourth stage runs (mostly downhill) along an old pilgrimage route to Stall in the Möll Valley. Here places such as the Liebhart Family’s Dorfschenke and Gasthof zur Brücke invite you to stop for a rest and bite to eat.
The next stage of the trail leads on to Innerfragant. Old footpaths take you past mountain farms and the famous “Rollbahn” trail from the days of copper mining. The Rollbahn is an impressive pathway that cuts through the steep forest by means of tunnels, bridges and paths carved into the rock. In the days of copper mining, the ore was removed from the Grossfragant by horse-drawn railway. In Innerfragant you will find restaurants such as Innerfraganter Wirt, which also has rooms to rent.
Your next destination – and the end of the sixth stage – is Mallnitz, in the heart of the Hohe Tauern National Park. You reach this lovely village after a longer ascent to the Staneralm hut. In Mallnitz you will find the Bios National Park Centre, as well as the Eggerhof, Alpenrose and Ferienhotel Alber restaurants, which serve up delicious food as you rest before you hit the next stage. Look forward to traditional “Kärntner Nudeln” stuffed pasta, a hearty treat for tired hikers!
The next stages – also featuring great dining along the trail
© Kärnten Werbung
From Mallnitz, head back into the Möll Valley past two spectacular ravines and the picturesque Stappitzer See Lake. Obervellach, the end of this seventh stage of the trail, is considered the centre of the popular Schroth therapy. Stop by the Restaurant & Lounge GrillKunst after a long day on the trail and enjoy not only a rest and great food cooked on a lava stone grill, but also their wine cellar and brewery. And with a little luck, you can sit next to the Mallnitzbach stream whilst you enjoy local specialities at the Gasthof zur guten Quelle.
Before reaching the Slovenian border, there are plenty of other opportunities to discover what Carinthian dining truly means – enjoy it with all of your senses!
