Upper Drau Valley (Lienz - Spittal a.d. Drau)

The dark green ribbon of the Drau and its wetlands winds from Lienz to Spittal, with the Drau cycle path alongside it the whole way. The path leads through cool wetlands and lovingly tended agricultural landscapes, framed by mountain forests, alpine meadows and the close summits of the Kreuzeckgruppe massif. In this picturesque landscape, the Drau still flows freely in many areas, its course uninterrupted by any hydroelectric power plant. A Europe-wide protected river, it has been awarded the Ramsar seal of quality as a wetland area of international significance.

 

A wide variety of rare animals and plants are at home here, where the water interacts with the land.  

Along the cycle path you will find idyllic villages, such as Oberdrauburg and Sachsenburg, with their pretty historical centres. Stop off for a dip in Lake Weissensee, the highest bathing lake in the Alps near Greifenburg, or simply recharge your batteries in a quiet spot on the banks of the Drau. Here you can really feel the power of the river - a symbol of renewal and change.