Ossiacher See

Lake Ossiach (Ossiacher See), in Carinthia in southern Austria, is one of the region's larger lakes, bordered by the villages of Ossiach, Steindorf, Bodensdorf, Annenheim and Sattendorf. Its waters, which warm up noticeably in summer, are well suited to swimming, sailing and windsurfing, while a cycle path circles the lake, linking the various lakeside villages. On the southern shore stands Ossiach Abbey (Stift Ossiach), a former Benedictine monastery that hosts the Carinthischer Sommer classical music festival each year. To the north, the Gerlitzen Alpe massif rises above the lake, its summit reachable by cable car from Annenheim and offering wide views over the Carinthian Alps and surrounding lakes. The region's mild continental climate, tempered by its many lakes, draws water sports enthusiasts as well as hikers and cyclists in summer, and skiers to the Gerlitzen slopes in winter. The surrounding landscape remains characterised by meadows, forests and small villages typical of Carinthia.