Austria has many beautiful nature destinations, also in the very south, in the federal State of Carinthia and East Tyrol. Lesachtal is not only a mountaineer village but also the first slow food destination of Austria.
Here you can watch local producers, discover herbs and take part in various cooking classes. And most importantly take home delicious treats from the small farmer shops.
The valley stretches for 60 kilometers, from Kötschach-Mauthen to Tassenbach right before Sillian in East Tyrol. The Lesachtal promotes itself with the title “Europe’s most unspoiled valley”. After two years on my bucket list I finally made it to the valley. The reason for my visit was not particularly nature but food. It is also the first slow food destination of Austria.
Why slow food destination
The Lesachvalley is together with the Gail- and Gitschvalley and the Weissensee Austria’s first slow food destination. It is home to many traditional food producers and food manufacturers. This can turn into your holiday experience, since there are many experiences around slow food. For instance you can join a cheese making, or cooking classes with slow food chefs, join a beekeeper class or learn more about products like the Mountain Aronia, the bread made from grain that was ground in mills, the locally grown potatoes and much more.
Activities at the slow food destination – Lesachtal
Besides the slow food activities that you can enjoy in the Lesachtal there are many outdoor excursions. There’s something for everyone, with a variety of activities ranging from those that are action-packed to those that are more relaxing.
The Megadive is a huge swing through the beautiful nature of the Lesachtal. If you are adrenaline you will come at your cost. The swing is installed at a 70-meter-high bridge. You will be secured and can enjoy the swing and see nature from above.
The rail tracks in Kötschach-Mauthen are not used for trains anymore but they turned them into fun outdoor activities, a so-called Draisine. You can rent a vehicle and cycle on the rails.
Furthermore the area is great for hiking, kayaking, climbing and or doing a via ferrata. To include cultural activities you can visit the violin making and shoemaking museum or relax at the spa area at one of the hotels.
The slow food activities are something you should not miss. I took a herbal workshop. We first went for an informative herbal walk and then prepared dishes with the herbs we collected. After the walk we made lentils wrapped in maple leaf, a salad with all the delicious greens from the garden and special bread with chive oil. We also get a takeaway roll with herbal oil against mosquitoes or for itchy mosquito bites.
The “Mühlenweg” – mill path is in Maria Luggau and a short uphill walk passing various active mills. From the hill you have a fantastic view of the mountains. The water runs through wooden constructions from one mill to another. It is indeed a beautiful scenery in the middle of the mountain slope.
How to reach the Lesachtal
Reaching the slow food destination via public transportation is a bit tricky but not impossible. To St. Lorenzen is a better bus connection than to Liesing for instance. From Sillian in East Tyrol there are multiple buses a day to St. Lorenzen. On the way it stops at the village before Maria Luggau. If you want to continue to Liesing you would need to switch the bus.
The bus trip from Sillian to St. Lorenzen is very beautiful, you will pass by these rural mountain villages, that look very traditional. Depends on what you have seen from Austria – it has a very different atmosphere and area. Even for someone like me who grew up in the alps.
The route from Liesing to Kötschach is very winding and goes up and down.
Lesachtal is not far from northern Italy. Also Klagenfurt you can reach the valley in 2 hours by car. From Salzburg it is around 4 hours. By public transportation everything takes longer, but it can be doable and the trip is definitely worth it. Especially if you are looking for a peaceful nature holiday this slow food destination in the Austrian alps should be on your list.
At the Lesachtal a shuttle service is planned for the next few years. So that could change accessibility for people without cars. The car sharing platform is not available there but in other regions of Carinthia.
Where to stay in the slow food destination in the alps
Where in Lesachtal you should stay depends on your mode of transportation. If you travel with public transport I would recommend staying somewhere between Sillian and St. Lorenzen. Because there is a rather frequent bus connection. If you are planning a cycling holiday, bear in mind that the terrain is very hilly and the roads are less busy.
If you are coming by car it really doesn’t matter where you stay. You can enjoy the flexibility of that. I booked my stay at the Leschtalerhof which is very beautiful and accommodating.
The author of the blog
Lisi is an adventurous, mostly solo traveler from Austria. She likes to travel slowly, discover underrated countries/regions, and of course, learn about cultures. She has been traveling the world and creating travel content since 2016. With a degree in tourism management and a passion for travel and cultures, she wants to tell stories that inspire her readers and help them travel more consciously.
