Pörtschach am Wörthersee

Pörtschach am Wörthersee is one of the most elegant lakeside resorts in the Austrian Alps, set on a small peninsula jutting into the warm waters of the Wörthersee in Carinthia. The town rose to prominence in the late 19th century when the railway opened the lake to Viennese and imperial society, and the promenade quickly filled with grand villas and bath houses. Johannes Brahms spent three successive summers here between 1877 and 1879, composing his Second Symphony and Violin Concerto while staying at the Leonstain, the lakeside castle-hotel that still operates today. The water of the Wörthersee is among the warmest in the Alps, and the town's lakefront promenade, the Passeggiata Lungolago, remains one of the most pleasant walks in Carinthia. The historic Werzer's Bathhouse, dating to the 19th century, is a landmark of the bathing culture that defines the town.

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Things to Do

• •Stay at or visit Hotel Schloss Leonstain, the lakeside castle where Brahms composed his Second Symphony
• •Walk the Passeggiata Lungolago, the shaded lakeside promenade connecting Pörtschach's historic villas
• •Swim and sunbathe at the Promenadenbad, the historic bathing area on the warm waters of the Wörthersee
• •Visit the Hohe Gloriette viewpoint above the town for panoramic views over the lake and surrounding mountains
• •Rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard and explore the shoreline and small bays around the peninsula
• •Cycle along the Wörthersee cycle path linking Pörtschach to Velden, Klagenfurt and Maria Wörth

Nearby Attractions

• Klagenfurt — Carinthia's capital with a charming old town, the Lindwurm fountain and Minimundus miniature park, 15 km east
• Maria Wörth — a picturesque pilgrimage church on a peninsula in the Wörthersee, one of the lake's most iconic views
• Hochosterwitz Castle — one of Austria's most dramatic medieval hill castles, rising above the Carinthian plain, 30 km east
• Pyramidenkogel — a modern observation tower with sweeping views over the Wörthersee and surrounding hills
• Velden am Wörthersee — the lively, glamorous resort at the western end of the lake, 12 km west