Austria Guide
Carinthia and the East Tyrol
Carinthia (Kärnten; 
www.carinthia.at ) is regarded by the Austrians – and a great many Germans and Italians too – as one of central Europe's most enticing vacation spots. Austria's southernmost province, it enjoys warm summers and exudes a relaxed, Mediterranean feel which, together with an impressive combination of lake and mountain scenery, make it the perfect place for an outdoor holiday.
The southern slopes of the Hohe Tauern are accessible from the East Tyrol (Osttirol), which borders Carinthia to the west. Geographically isolated by the Tauern range from the rest of the Tyrol, this compact knot of alpine valleys and mountains remains surprisingly untouched by the winter package-holiday trade.
Highlights
1 Watersports Windsurf, waterski, pedalo, sail and row your way around the region's crystalline lakes.
2 Burg Hochosterwitz Stunning hilltop Disney-esque castle surveying the Carinthian countryside.
3 Friesach Castles, moats and gothic churches cluster together in one of Austria's most characterful medieval towns.
4 Heinrich-Harrer-Museum A taste of Tibet and the chance to meditate whilst walking a Lingkor.
5 Millstatt One of Carinthia's most refined lakeside resorts, with fin-de-siècle holiday villas providing plenty of architectural charm.
6 Heiligenblut Tiny picturesque village towered over by Austria's highest peak, the Grossglockner.
7 East Tyrol One of the country's most unspoilt regions, centring on laid-back, cosmopolitan Lienz.