Sights and attractions for your winter holiday at Lake Millstatt
Culture and traditions in winter in Carinthia
From the atmospheric lakeside advent to cultural gems and events: Your winter holiday in Carinthia has a lot to offer. The region is also rich in customs and traditions that are lovingly upheld. Find out more about your holiday region and plan excursions and daytrips during your winter holiday in Carinthia!
Winter customs in Carinthia
Carinthia is particularly rich in advent and Christmas traditions. One such unique custom is that of plunging a decorated and lit-up Christmas trees into the icy waters of Lake Wörthersee and now also Lake Millstätter See, a tradition of the EKUS diving club to commemorate all those who lost their lives in the lake.
The "Glöckler” who move from house to house in Advent are also part of these customs, as are many other church festivals and traditions during this time of year.
Carnival in Carinthia, Villach and beyond
Thanks to the “Villacher Faschingsgilde” carnival committee, Villach (approx. 40 km from Millstatt) is a stronghold of all things carnival-related. The tickets for the celebrations of the Villacher Faschingsgilde are extremely popular and sell out in no time. Millstatt also has its own Faschingsgilde that organises events with a live audience in February. The “5th season” also comes with fancy dress parties and children’s events.
Cultural highlights: museums
The region’s museums also look forward to welcoming you during the winter months. The Sagamundo House of Legends offers winter fairy tales in addition to its year-round offer of stories and legends that children and anyone young at heart will love. If you would like to find out more about what fabled creatures are said to slumber in Lake Millstätter See or what story is behind the Klagenfurter Lindwurm, the Sagamundo in Döbriach is the place for you.
Another highlight in the region is the Granatium, where you may find out all there is to know about garnet stones, the “fiery stone of love”, and where you also have the opportunity to dig your own garnet souvenir out of the rock.
Advent at Lake Millstätter See in Austria
Experience a traditional Advent in Carinthia
From November onwards, the quietest time of year begins to settle over the land. Lake Millstätter See and its holiday villages make a tranquil backdrop to the Advent season at the lake and add to the magical atmosphere. Take a stroll along the lakeside promenade, visit the Advent market on the lake or let Christmas concerts put you in the mood for the season. Enjoy some lakeside bliss this Advent!
Advent customs in the Forelle
At the Forelle, we also celebrate Advent – after all, it is the perfect opportunity for making time for togetherness and indulgence. Every year in Advent, we invite our guests to make themselves at home over a cup of tea in the Seepavillon, with a view of the lake, and to listen to Christmas stories, interspersed with stimulating conversation and laughter. This has become an Advent tradition at the Forelle.
Floating light terrace in Carinthia
Not far from the Seeglück Hotel Forelle, a magical world of lights and fragrances awaits on the Christmas terrace on the lake. This large, floating platform is home to the Café-Bistro, the Kap 4613, and is a romantic and cosy spot where you may enjoy mulled wine, “Ritschert”, hot sandwiches, baked apples and other seasonal delights, while open fireplaces spread delightful warmth. Enjoy the unique winter landscape in this wonderful setting!
Advent and Christmas customs in Carinthia
In Carinthia and throughout the Alps, Christmas comes with its very own customs and traditions. Every village organises nativity plays, "Perchten" and “Krampus” runs that bring regional customs to life. For an extensive collection of Alpine, eastern, and local nativity scenes, visit Porcia Castle.
Other Advent markets around Lake Millstätter See
To get more of an idea of what Advent in Carinthia is all about, visit the Christmas markets in Spittal an der Drau and in Radenthein. In Spittal, the Stadtpark next to historic Porcia Castle is turned into an enchanting Christmas scene every winter, with arts and craft from the region, Christmas concerts, culinary highlights and an extensive children’s programme inviting you to browse and linger.
A winter holiday in Carinthia
Experience the magic of Advent on the shores of Lake Millstätter See. Directly at the lake, the family-run Seeglück HOTEL FORELLE welcomes you for a winter holiday in Carinthia. Numerous ski resorts in the vicinity as well as opportunities for snowshoe hiking, cross-country skiing and ski touring will leave you spoilt for choice during your winter holiday in Carinthia.
Experience culture in winter
Get to know the Carinthian culture, visit sights and let yourself be pampered in the Hotel Forelle in the evening, does that sound like the perfect holiday to you? Then book directly online now or send us a non-binding inquiry!
