Carinthia Austria is emerging as one of the most intriguing destinations for Jewish travelers seeking both natural beauty and meaningful heritage experiences. Between crystal-clear lakes, forest-covered mountains, charming Austrian towns, and little-known Jewish historical sites, this southern Austrian region offers a refreshing alternative to the more familiar routes of Tyrol and Salzburg. Visitors can combine hiking, family attractions, kosher hospitality, Holocaust remembrance sites, and traces of centuries of Jewish life, all surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery in the Alps.
Two kosher hotels were opened this summer in Carinthia (South Austria), and both are fully booked. This is indicating that Carinthia is apparently becoming the new desired destination for Israelis
Carinthia is located east of the Tyrol region, which has already been discovered and visited by many Israelis. I have traveled to Carinthia recently, and I think this area should be called "Tyrol Plus". The landscape is similar to the beautiful forested Tyrolean mountains with its many green tones, which widen the heart. And the "Plus" of Carinthia is its many lakes. About 1,200 lakes are in the Carinthia region and 22 are considered tourist destinations. And another small plus - Jewish sites can also be found in Carinthia
Many tourist attractions are offered there, and in my opinion the most attractive attraction there is not man-made, but made by the Creator. The landscapes are just amazing. Everything is green. Lawns and cultivated fields in the valleys, and high mountains covered with forests, and I went to the forest for-rest. There is plenty of running water in large streams everywhere. The air is clear, pleasant and cool, without the need for an air conditioner. It is a pleasure to stop in all kinds of places, sit on one of the benches or lawns, breathe deeply the cool air, and swallow the surrounding landscape in our eyes. Pastoral peace. A paradise for vacationers. For example, these lines I write from the balcony of my hotel rooms, facing this view
Klagenfurt: Jewish History on the Shores of Wörthersee
The capital of the district is the city of Klagenfurt. It has old Baroque buildings alongside modern buildings. It is worth visiting the old town building Alter Platz in the main square, built in the 13th century. It is also worth visiting the government house, whose first floor is an art museum. The town hall is in the new Neuer Platz square, built in the 16th century. In front there is a large statue of a dragon and a statue of Maria Theresa. On the sidewalk on nearby Kramer Street there are mosaics with symbols of twin cities of Klagenfurt. We can also see the symbol of the Nazareth Illit municipality. The favorite recreation place for our children is Minimundus Park. It is a large site with miniatures of world-famous buildings
The Lost Synagogue and Stolpersteine Memorials
The main Synagogue of Klagenfurt was burnt on Kristallnacht in 1938, and a residential building was built on its ruins. On the sidewalk in front of the house (on Platzgasse 3) stands a memorial monument to the synagogue and the Jewish community
Several places in the city have stolpersteine, on which are engraved the names of Jews who lived in that house in front of them, and from there were taken to the extermination camps
These curbstones were photographed near the town hall in the first alley on the left. The names of the former Jewish tenants who were sent from this house to their deaths in the Nazi extermination camps are inscribed on them. Other stones are on the sidewalks opposite other houses in Klagenfurt
The Jewish Cemetery and Holocaust Remembrance
The most interesting Jewish site in Klagenfurt is the Jewish cemetery. There are gravestones from 1880. It is worth paying attention to the gravestones of Jewish soldiers in the Austrian army, lived in Klagenfurt, killed in World War I. When the Nazis came to power in Austria, some of the Jewish officers tore off the military medals off their uniforms and returned them to the government in a demonstrative act. There is a tour guide named Martha Mann who gives guided tours of the Jewish cemetery
Travelers interested in a deeper exploration of local Jewish history can read a detailed guide to Klagenfurt's Jewish heritage
Klagenfurt lies on the banks of the Worthersee Lake, which is the largest of the many lakes in Carinthia. It is recommended to sail by boat from the pier near the city. The water of the lake is very clear. On the banks of the lake there are beautiful villas. Some of these houses were owned by rich Jews from Vienna. During the Nazis' period they were forced to sell them very cheaply. The most famous Jewish house on the banks of the lake belonged to composer Gustav Mahler. Here he wrote the Fifth Symphony, and other musical works
On the Grossglockner mountain ridge south of Wörther Lake there is a Pyramidenkogel observation tower, about 70 meters high. An elevator takes us to the upper balconies, which offer breathtaking panoramic views of the various lakes and the Austrian Alps
Another important site is the labor camp on Route 91 between Klagenfurt and the border with Slovenia. About half an hour's drive from Klagenfurt. It was a forced labor camp where the Nazis imprisoned and worked hard on many Jews, as well as non-Jewish communists. This camp was a branch of the infamous Mauthausen camp
Carinthia is a tourist area, and like any tourist area there are many attractions for tourists. We cannot list all of them in one article, so we will present some of the most prominent and recommended among the attractions in areas where many of the religious Jewish travelers are vacationing
The second largest city in the province of Carinthia is Villach. In front of the municipal museum of Loibelpass there is a public park with a Holocaust monument. On which are engraved the names of about 400 of the city's victims of the Holocaust, including the names of 162 Jews
Hohe Tauern: Alpine Adventures and Kosher Hospitality
In the small town of Flattach there is a kosher hotel Molltal Sport which can be an exit point for some attractions. Across the main road is a CAM complex with a rope park for children's games. From there we can also go rafting
Ragga-Schlucht Canyon and Summer Skiing
Nearby there is the Ragga-schlucht Canyon with hiking trail alongside a flowing stream and above it. Suitable for the whole family, except for those with walking difficulties
In Carinthia you can find active ski resorts even at the summer. We went to Molltalen Glestcher, which rises to 3,122 meters. It is recommended to spend at least half a day visiting and skiing.
The best method is to come in the evening to stay at the Badmeister hotel, and in the morning walk about 300 meters to the cable car that takes us to the top of the mountain. The service at this hotel is extraordinarily indulgent
Bad Kleinkirchheim: Thermal Springs and Hidden Jewish History
The second kosher hotel is Alpenlandhof in the picturesque town of Bad Kleinkirchheim. This hotel was fully booked when I was in Carinthia, so we stayed at a bigger and nicer Kaerntenhof hotel. The hotel belongs to the family of the mayor, Matthias Krenn, who is a supporter of Israeli tourism to Carinthia, and even came to visit us on our first evening there
This town has thermal water springs that erupt from the earth in different temperatures, ranging from 31 degrees to 46 degrees. Over the hot springs, the thermal spa Romerbad has built pools of various sizes that enclose the mineral water. Close to the town there are also interesting and beautiful hiking trails at various levels of difficulty
The Forgotten Villages of the Jews
There are other three sites that will interest Jews, even though they do not appear on the tourist map of Carinthia. There are three villages where all the inhabitants were Jews only. Two of them are called Judendorf which means "the village of the Jews", and one is called Judenanger (Jewish anger). Today there is no trace of Judaism, except for the signs with the arrows that show the way to the villages
Goldeck: Panoramic Views Above the Austrian Alps
One of the ridges of the Austrian Alps is Mount Goldeck. In winter times it is one of Austria's best ski resorts, and in summer it is used mainly for hiking and stunning views. Take a cable car from the town of Spittal an der Drau, and at the top station leave the cable car, for a walk on the mountain paths to the top. An exceptional trip. Below us we see a magnificent landscape of green fields and other mountain ranges
Down the mountain are small houses with cows grazing peacefully and lazily in the meadow. The sight reminded me the children's book "The Heidi of the Mountains", with stories about Heidi's grandfather living in an isolated wooden hut in the Alps, and raising a few goats and cows. When we reach the top of the Goldeck, we see valleys and mountains in all directions. The sight is breathtaking
Many visitors also combine their Carinthia itinerary with a tour of nearby Villach and its Holocaust memorials
Millstätter See and Lakeside Recreation
When descending from the mountain back to town, it is worth walking on the banks of the Millstaetter See. There are beautiful houses with gardens reaching the water. It is worth renting a rowboat or pedal boat at RoyalX hotel and sailing the lake
These are just "samples" of the attractions I have experienced in Carinthia. there are many more. Every Tourist Information Station in Carinthia provides explanations and maps and prospectuses of near tourist sites. There is a Carinthia Card that provides free admission or discounts to hundreds of tourist attractions. The value of all the discounts of the ticket is about 700 euros. Highly recommended for independent travelers and families
Why Carinthia Austria Is Becoming Popular with Israeli Travelers
Despite all the advantages and great tourism potential of Carinthia, it is considered a "terra incognita" for the Israeli public. Last year, there were approximately 8,000 persons overnight sleeping of Israelis in Carinthia, compared with 180,000 Israelis' overnight stays in Salzburg and the Tyrol region. Mrs. Alena Van Dijk, who is in charge of Israeli tourism there, says that this summer there is a 50% increase in the number of Israelis who have visited Carinthia. She also notes that 35% of Israeli tourists are Orthodox
It is possible to reach Carinthia via Vienna or via Ljubljana. The distance from Ljubljana is about one hour drive, and the distance from Vienna is four hours. There is also a domestic flight from Vienna to Klagenfurt
Growing Demand for Kosher Tourism
However, currently there is no kosher restaurant in this huge district except in the kosher hotels, and no direct flights from Israel to Klagenfurt. Alena promises that next year there will also be charter flights. The duration of the direct flights will be shorter than the flights to Salzburg and Innsbruck, and therefore the tickets price will be cheaper. The tourist authorities are working on a solution to the Kashrut problem, and maybe they'll help Chabad House of Munich to open a branch in Carinthia. Update will be reported here in the JewishTraveler online magazine
Carinthia Austria combines everything many travelers seek in a European vacation: dramatic mountain scenery, pristine lakes, fresh alpine air, family attractions, and a fascinating Jewish story hidden beneath the surface. Whether exploring Klagenfurt's Jewish heritage, relaxing in thermal springs, hiking across alpine ridges, or staying in one of the region's kosher hotels, visitors discover a destination that still feels authentic, peaceful, and wonderfully uncrowded.
Updated information about attractions, accommodation, hiking routes, and seasonal events is available through the official regional tourism website.
FAQ
What is Carinthia Austria known for?
Carinthia Austria is famous for its alpine landscapes, more than a thousand lakes, mountain resorts, and outdoor activities. It is also gaining attention among Jewish travelers because of its kosher hotels and heritage sites.
Are there kosher hotels in Carinthia Austria?
Yes, several kosher hotels have opened in Carinthia and have become popular among Israeli and Orthodox Jewish tourists. Demand is especially strong during the summer season.
What Jewish heritage sites can be visited in Carinthia?
Travelers can visit Jewish cemeteries, Holocaust memorials, former synagogue locations, Stolpersteine memorial stones, and former Nazi labor camp sites. Klagenfurt and Villach contain some of the most important Jewish landmarks in the region.
What are the best lakes to visit in Carinthia Austria?
Wörthersee and Millstätter See are among the most beautiful and popular lakes in Carinthia. Both offer boating, swimming, lakeside promenades, and spectacular mountain views.
Can you ski in Carinthia during the summer?
Yes, visitors can ski on the Mölltal Glacier, where snow conditions allow skiing even during summer months. It is one of the unique attractions of the region.
How do you get to Carinthia Austria?
Most visitors arrive through Vienna or Ljubljana and continue by car. Klagenfurt also has domestic flight connections and future tourism plans include expanded air access.
Photos: Tourismusregion Klagenfurt, Martha Mann, Liron Almog, ©franzgerdl, ©gert_perauer, and Jacob Maor