Maria Wörth
A peninsula village.
Johann Jaritz — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Giorgio Galeotti — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Johann Jaritz — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Johann Jaritz — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Giorgio Galeotti — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Wörthersee is the largest lake in Carinthia, southern Austria, stretching from the edge of Klagenfurt in the east to the bay of Velden in the west; its middle lies about 12 km west of Klagenfurt and 235 km southwest of Vienna in a straight line. It is one of Austria's main summer bathing destinations. The lake is about 16.5 km long and 1.5 km wide and was carved by glaciers in the last ice age. Islands and peninsulas divide it into three basins, between Velden, Pörtschach, Maria Wörth and Klagenfurt. Forested hills flank it to the north and south, with snowy Alpine peaks visible beyond. The water is a clear blue-green and warms up in summer more than most Alpine lakes. Old villas, wooden jetties and bathing beaches line the shores, and the village of Maria Wörth sits with its two churches on a small peninsula reaching into the water. Passenger boats sail between the villages in season, and the tall wooden Pyramidenkogel tower looks over the whole lake from the south. Summer is busy with swimmers and festivals; spring and autumn are quieter for lakeside walks.
A peninsula village.
A view over the lake.
Warm in summer.
Between Klagenfurt and Velden, Carinthia, Austria
It warms up in summer more than most Alpine lakes.
Summer to swim; spring and autumn for quiet.