ZEITplätze between lake and mountain Places in Carinthia where you can feel time slow down

Here, at Heidi Alm Falkert, by the sparkling Lake Falkertsee – where the gentle peaks of the Nockberge mountains stretch across the landscape in the heart of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Carinthian Nockberge – there is a very special place: Heidi-ZEIT. And this is where a very special story begins:

It was a quiet morning on the alpine pasture. The sun was just rising above the mountains, bathing everything in warm, bright light. The goats were already awake, and the wind was playing with the grass. Heidi sat barefoot on a large rock. Today, there was nothing she had to do. No fetching water, no making cheese, no visitors from the city. It was just Heidi – with the mountains, the animals and TIME.

“If you are very quiet, you can hear TIME,” Grandfather had told her.

Heidi listened carefully. There was a gentle trickling sound. Perhaps a stream? Perhaps the wind? She wanted to find out and slowly set off. Not quickly. Not like she usually did. Nice and slow. She crossed meadows filled with alpine flowers, walked through the Swiss stone pine forest and over small rocks until she reached Lake Falkertsee.

And then she saw a bench. A very special bench. On it was the word TIME.

Heidi sat down. She looked at the mountains. She listened to the birds. Cowbells rang in the distance. The wind played with her hair. Everything was so peaceful. So quiet. So beautiful.

And then she realised: TIME is not just what you see on a clock. TIME is what you feel when you are completely present. When there is nothing you have to do. When you can simply be.

Heidi sat there for a long time. Perhaps an hour. Perhaps the whole day. And when she finally stood up again, her heart felt wonderfully light. She had discovered something special: Heidi-ZEIT.

“You know what, Grandfather?” Heidi said that evening. “Heidi-ZEIT is my favourite TIME!”

Text: Julia Köfer, Chairwoman of TV Falkert

Here, at the ZEITplatz in Klingerpark, TIME reveals its special power: calm, profound and full of meaning. It is a place that preserves a legacy dating back to the early 20th century.

Baron Robert Wilhelm Klinger von Klingerstorff, a wealthy cloth and silk merchant with business ties to Italy, purchased the magnificent Porcia Castle in Spittal an der Drau in 1918 for himself and his wife Gabriela – an architectural masterpiece of the Renaissance. The estate also included extensive land on Lake Millstätter See, including what is now Klingerpark.

The economic crisis of the interwar years, however, caused the Baron’s fortune to dwindle. Porcia Castle had to be given up. What remained was a modest house by the lake, on the site of the park that now bears his name. Here, in peaceful seclusion, the Baron discovered a new understanding of TIME – far from wealth and closer to himself.

In 1961, the property was sold to the municipality of Seeboden, on the condition that it remain permanently open to the public: a place of recreation and tranquillity for all TIME. The contract prohibited both development and resale of the land. The Baron and his wife retained the right to live there for the rest of their lives. Following the death of Gabriela Freiin Klinger von Klingerstorff in 1984, the public park was finally established.

The Baron’s gift of TIME lives on to this day. The ZEITplatz invites you to pause. Thoughts begin to wander as light dances across the sparkling waters of Lake Millstätter See. The gentle waves reflect the flow of TIME, while the 2,110-metre-high Mirnock rises quietly above the landscape, a reminder of what endures.

This place preserves what once mattered to the Baron: TIME is meant to be experienced consciously and shared. Amid the sweeping views and tranquillity of the lake, TIME regains its true value, reminding us that TIME is the greatest gift we can give ourselves and others.

High above Lake Millstätter See, where the view stretches across the picturesque lake and mountain landscape and the light seems especially clear, you’ll find Alpine Rose TIME. The ZEITplatz was not given its name by chance: it is named after the nearby Naturhotel Alpenrose, which, like the ZEITplatz itself, has a deep connection with nature and the symbolism of the alpine rose.

The alpine rose symbolises vitality, grace and quiet beauty – but above all, it represents what can emerge when we give the moment the space it needs.

This special flower does not grow just anywhere – it thrives where the world becomes quieter. It needs TIME and the right surroundings to reveal its full beauty. It blossoms at just the right moment, in perfect harmony with its surroundings. And that is precisely what Alpine Rose TIME embodies.

In the clear mountain air, with sweeping views across Lake Millstätter See and the surrounding peaks and the gentle sounds of nature all around, you can sense that TIME flows to a different rhythm here. Rather than being measured in numbers, it follows its own natural pace.

The moment you arrive, you realise: here, TIME becomes something you can experience and feel slowing down.

Just as the alpine rose opens its blossoms in harmony with TIME, this special place invites you to experience TIME as it unfolds naturally. It is a place where TIME gains value and every moment gains meaning. Mindfulness and tranquillity set the rhythm, turning each moment into an experience of the here and now.

Tip: A hike to the Millstätter Schlucht gorge with its Kneipp stations or a refreshing cold-water dip by the waterfall is the perfect addition to your Alpine Rose TIME experience, inviting you to discover the restorative power of nature in all its forms.

Here at Heidi Alm Falkert, in the heart of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Carinthian Nockberge, you’ll find the panoramic swing “My Heidi Alm, my Family TIME”.

A ZEITplatz where young and old can experience the magic of the Nockberge mountains between lakes and peaks – and where the legend of Falke and Mosche comes to life:

Once upon a time, high in the Nockberge mountains around the Falkert, near Heidi Alm Falkert, there lived two mighty but kind-hearted giants: Falke and Mosche. They helped the farmers in the valley, cleared rocks from the pastures, built stone fences and created safe paths across the mountains.

One day, both giants fell in love with a kind-hearted farmer’s daughter, whose singing enchanted everyone who heard it. At first, they kept their feelings to themselves, but before long, their love turned into a quarrel. “I saw her first!” cried Falke. “But I love her just as much!” Mosche replied.

Consumed by anger, they tore enormous boulders from the Falkert and the Moschelitzen and hurled them at one another. The earth shook, and the great rocks remained where they had landed.

Eventually, the two giants collapsed from exhaustion and died.

When the farmer’s daughter found them, her heart broke with sorrow. She wept for so long that her tears gathered in hollows among the mountains, forming two crystal-clear lakes: the Kleiner Falkertsee and the Großer Falkertsee.

Ever since, the mountains have preserved the memory of all that happened. And if you look very closely, you can still make out the two giants today: Falke in the Falkert and Mosche in the Moschelitzen – forever part of the landscape they once protected.

And when children play at Heidi Alm, the wind still whispers their story.

Legend has it that a young shepherd boy once sat by Lake Grünsee. Bored, he picked up a small stone and tossed it into the water. Splash.

Ripples spread outwards, further and further, until they disappeared into the shimmering surface of the lake. And he thought: “How quickly everything passes.”

Just then, the wind rustled through the Swiss stone pines along the shore. Their resinous scent filled the air, and beneath the bark were the growth rings of the trees. That was when the boy understood: what disappears in the water remains in the pinewood. What vanishes in a single moment is preserved by TIME.

Ever since, it has been said that every stone thrown into Lake Grünsee leaves another ring in the trees.

And anyone who takes a seat on this bench can sense both: the movement of the waves – and the enduring presence of the Swiss stone pines.

Lake Grünsee lies nestled within one of the largest continuous Swiss stone pine forests in the Alps, in the heart of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Carinthian Nockberge. The Three Lakes Trail passes by the lake – a circular route, a circle that, just like the rings themselves, always returns to where it began. A trail that reminds us that everything is connected – water, forest, people and TIME.

And so Lake Grünsee tells its story again and again: in the gentle lapping of the water, the rustling of the treetops and the cracking of pine cones.

The ripples on the lake fade away, the rings in the wood remain, and the trail completes its circle.

And then you can feel it: TIME passes – yet at the same time, it remains.

Those who take a seat here can sense this special power. Come up to come alive:
This is my AufZEIT.

Text: Julia Stückelschwaiger, TMG – Turracher Höhe Marketing GmbH

On the shores of Lake Millstätter See, where the water gently sways the reeds and the mountains rise like guardians on the horizon, lies a special ZEITplatz – a place where TIME comes alive, as though it had a rhythm of its own. The lake opens out beneath the vast sky, where, on a clear night, the stars seem to reflect infinity.

Here, where TIME seems to flow more slowly, a remarkable story comes to life. Around 70 years ago, Friedrich Berger made a decision on this very spot that few people understood at the time. He exchanged his valuable vegetable field for a seemingly useless piece of lakeside land, overgrown with reeds and marshland. The exchange was considered bold, almost crazy – the field was important for growing food, while the lakeside plot was regarded as worthless. But Friedrich Berger saw beyond the obvious. In this quiet stretch of land by the lake, he recognised a hidden treasure. To him, it was a place where TIME held a different meaning – a place for new beginnings.

Just ten years later, the rise of lakeside tourism transformed the property into a true gem. It became a symbol of change and new beginnings – the foundation for a new TIME. Today, the Hotel zur Post lakeside lido is a much-loved place for countless guests and has remained in the family for five generations.

As the day draws to a close and the first stars appear in the sky, the ZEITplatz takes on an almost magical atmosphere. The starry sky stretching above Lake Millstätter See is a reminder that TIME is an infinite space, in which every decision, every moment and every hour has meaning.

It is a place where the spirit comes alive and your gaze opens up – across the mountains, over the shimmering water and towards the endless starry sky. This ZEITplatz reminds us that TIME is precious – something to shape consciously and treasure mindfully.

High in the Nockberge mountains,
on the Hochrindl,
where the world slows down and TIME follows its own rhythm,
you’ll find it: All in Alpine TIME.

The wide-open landscape stretches out below,
as the gentle peaks of the Nockberge mountains merge with the sky.

The ZEITplatz opens up the view –
a frame looking out into the landscape and inward into your own TIME.
It frames the moment while opening it up at the same time.

Here, you can feel everything slowing down.
Thoughts become quiet, your breathing deepens, and TIME feels light. Up here, it seems to stand still, yet continues to flow:
slower, more consciously, more authentically.

What remains is the now.

Because here, everything comes together:
nature and people,
stillness and movement,
near and far,
beginning and now.

A moment that stays with you.
A place where everything becomes one.
All in Alpine TIME.

High above Spittal an der Drau, on Goldeck mountain, a special ZEITplatz awaits – a place that invites you to immerse yourself in the here and now. Simply take a seat, breathe deeply and leave everyday life far below.

The breathtaking views across the town and valley, towards Lake Millstätter See and the magnificent mountain panorama make this a peaceful retreat for anyone who wants to pause and experience the moment with all their senses.

As your gaze settles on Spittal an der Drau, one building immediately stands out: Porcia Castle, an architectural gem and one of the most beautiful Renaissance buildings south of the Alps.

Count Georg von Salamanca-Ortenburg had the castle built in the 16th century after his magnificent Ortenburg Castle, at the foot of Goldeck mountain, was destroyed. Loved by the people, he lived there with his proud and hard-hearted wife, Katharina von Salamanca.

Yet the castle holds more than memories of the power and splendour of times gone by. Its walls are also home to a dark legend:

One day, during a celebration, a group of beggars asked to be let inside. But the Countess set her dogs on them. An elderly sacristan, unable to escape, was brutally killed by the hounds. As he lay dying, he uttered a curse: her son would meet the same fate. And so it came to pass. Her son died, and with him the Count’s heart broke. Overcome with pain and grief, he too passed away.

The Countess withdrew to her chambers. Tormented by guilt and sorrow, she had all her treasures and jewels sealed away in the castle cellars. Yet her spirit is said to have found no peace to this day. Legend has it that she still wanders the rooms of Porcia Castle night after night – searching for her wasted TIME, hoping for redemption – or perhaps simply guarding her hidden treasure?

TIME is the greatest treasure we possess. Moments lived consciously and places that invite us to pause and be still – this is our true TIME for happiness.

High above, on Goldeck mountain.

Text: Spittal an der Drau Tourist Association

Here, on the shores of Lake Millstätter See, where water, mountains and sky come together to create a unique panorama, TIME begins to flow differently – more slowly, more deeply, more consciously. This is a place where the history of the traditional summer retreat has left its mark and where TIME takes on a value of its own.

From around 1870 onwards, the first visitors seeking rest and relaxation came to Millstatt – professors, artists, doctors and scholars from Vienna and Graz who appreciated the mild climate, pure air and tranquillity of the mountains. They spread the word about the “Nice of Carinthia”, and Millstatt soon gained a reputation as a spa resort, particularly for the treatment of respiratory illnesses.

Ladies and gentlemen enjoyed therapeutic bathing in the clear waters of the lake, in separate bathing areas. Before long, the first lakeside bathing facilities appeared and boat traffic flourished. Those who could afford it rented a villa for the entire summer – or had one built for themselves. To this day, the magnificent houses along the Villenweg tell of an era when TIME was not a luxury, but a way of life.

A special symbol of this era is the diving tower, built in 1930 and opened in 1931. At the time, it was considered the most beautiful of its kind in Austria, complete with a slide and a rare ten-metre diving platform. Built from concrete, it was an architectural pioneering achievement at a TIME when structures of this kind were still uncommon.

It became a landmark of Millstatt, appearing on postcards and posters and inspiring generations to dream and marvel. Generations of locals and visitors have found their courage here, overcome their fear of heights and taken the plunge into the lake – into the moment, into life, into TIME.

Today, the diving tower is a protected historic monument. It reminds us that TIME does not simply pass – it can also be shaped. And that the tradition of the summer retreat is more than just a holiday: it is a way of life that continues to shape Millstatt to this day.

Spend a moment here and you’ll feel it: TIME is a gift. And perhaps it is the simple act of diving into the water that reminds us just how light TIME can feel.

Text: Millstatt Tourist Association

With uninterrupted views across Lake Millstätter See and the surrounding mountains, the ZEITplatz “TIME for Two” awaits in Barbara-Egger-Park in Millstatt.

Originally created in 1880 as the monastery’s garden, this is a place where the present moment takes centre stage – the TIME shared between two people.

The panoramic swing invites you to take a seat side by side. It begins to move gently and evenly, almost like a breath. A peaceful rhythm emerges, in harmony with the water and the landscape. It carries the moment, offering a sense of security while creating a feeling of lightness. Thoughts settle and your awareness expands.

Your gaze wanders across the shimmering water, framed by the mountains. There is space for words. And for silence. As you swing together, you begin to feel just how light TIME can be when it is shared. Every moment gains depth, every movement takes on meaning.

Here, closeness grows in harmony. A conversation deepens. A smile lingers a little longer. Between sky and lake, a sense of balance emerges – a moment whose value lies in the experience itself.

In TIME that connects.

On a peaceful high plateau in Himmelberg, a secluded island of TIME with sweeping views across the landscape towards the Alps-Adriatic region, your TIME out with purpose begins – beside a quiet source of wisdom: the cherry tree at the Natur Gut Lassen Wohlfühlbauernhof.

In spring, the cherry tree transforms into a sea of white blossoms. For just a few days, the delicate flowers dance in the breeze, filling the air with their subtle fragrance and gently reminding us how precious each moment is.

Then deep-red cherries begin to ripen, filled with sunshine and flavour. Now it is TIME to savour. In the farmhouse kitchen, nature’s fruits are transformed into jam, fine syrup and traditional Carinthian pastries. Every taste becomes a piece of TIME truly lived, connected with a meaningful memory.

The message of the cherry tree is clear: it reminds us how fleeting life can be and teaches us to appreciate the moment – because it is the special, precious moments that touch and fulfil us most deeply. Those who pause mindfully in the here and now discover the true meaning of TIME.

Your gaze drifts across the sunlit pond, then onwards over forests and the gentle mountain landscape. In this tranquillity, one thing becomes clear:

Here, TIME seems to stand still.

The ZEITplatz opens the door to meaningful journeys through TIME – into the past, present and future. It invites you to fill your own TIME with purpose and experience precious moments in all their depth.

Natur Gut Lassen brings this philosophy to life in every detail – through the mindful use of resources, the respectful relationship between people, animals and nature, and the unhurried moments waiting to be experienced. Just like this ZEITplatz, where TIME takes root and comes alive.

On the shores of Lake Brennsee, with views of the majestic Mirnock, where the water gently laps against the shore and sunlight dances across the surface, Lake TIME unfolds – a place where TIME can be experienced in all its depth.

Just a few steps away, the Hotel Brennseehof, built in 1964, is closely connected to this ZEITplatz. Named after the lake itself, it symbolises experiencing TIME consciously and in harmony with nature.

The water of the lake is like a living mirror. It reflects the gentle mountains, the vast sky – and the people who gaze into it. Yet this mirror reveals more than your own reflection. Look closely and you can feel TIME. Every wave that reaches the shore is unique – just like every moment in life, waiting to be experienced in all its depth.

These waves also echo an ancient legend about a mighty giant who once lived on the Mirnock. When a fisherman’s daughter rejected him, he furiously hurled enormous boulders into the valley, dividing the original body of water into two lakes – Lake Brennsee and Lake Afritzer See. The story shows how TIME is shaped by events and creates new paths – just like water, constantly flowing and finding new shores.

The name “Brennsee” itself also represents both change and continuity. It recalls the historic “Haus Brenn”, a 17th-century distillery and one of the first buildings by the lake. Here, spirits were distilled with patience and dedication – a slow process that, just like the lake, reminds us of the precious nature of TIME and invites us to shape it mindfully.

Surrounded by nature, ancient legends and traces of TIME lived and experienced, Lake TIME offers something rare: TIME to feel. TIME to simply be.

In the flow of the water. In the lake. In TIME.

High above Seeboden, at the ZEITplatz of the traditional Pension Frankhofer, the view opens onto a world where TIME seems to breathe more quietly. Lake Millstätter See stretches out below, calm and expansive – a mirror for the surrounding mountains. The Wolfsberg and Hochgosch are reflected in the still water, as though the landscape had been captured in its own TIME.

Beyond them rises Goldeck mountain – 2,142 metres high, peaceful and powerful. According to legend, three shepherds once discovered a crevice in the rock – today known as the “Goldwand”. A mysterious woman dressed in white, carrying a large key, showed them the way into the mountain. She led them to a door, which they opened to discover gold and precious stones. The woman allowed them to take as much as their pockets could hold, but asked them never to tell anyone about the treasure. They promised and returned home happily. But when one of them revealed the secret, everything turned to stone and the entrance in the rock disappeared.

Perhaps the true message of the story lies precisely here: true wealth is not found in what we possess, but in what we experience. Stone, shaped by the mountain, stands still while carrying within it the stories of millions of years. It becomes a symbol of TIME that shapes and transforms. True TIME cannot be held onto – it is meant to be experienced.

At the foot of the ZEITplatz lies a meadow filled with flowers that celebrate the arrival of spring each year in a colourful display. It reflects the constant movement of TIME – an interplay of growth and rest that keeps the rhythm of nature alive. Here, you can sense how TIME comes alive in every moment, unfolding anew again and again.

The Frankhofer property was already recorded in 1826 on the maps of the Franziscean Cadastre. Remaining true to its character over the generations, it was honoured in 2024 for more than 50 years of hospitality. A place in harmony with TIME.

And so the ZEITplatz invites you to take a seat and simply be. Here, where past, present and future meet in a quiet moment, and where nature, history and legend intertwine, you can feel what truly matters: the value of TIME.

At the ZEITplatz high above Lake Millstätter See, your gaze sweeps across the shimmering waters of Lake Millstätter See and the surrounding mountains. Far in the distance, rising as delicate silhouettes on the horizon, are the onion domes of Millstatt Abbey – like silent guardians of the lake. Here, nature and culture meet across the vast landscape, while past and present seem to draw closer together.

Founded in the 11th century, Millstatt Abbey is one of Carinthia’s most important historic sites. Its walls carry TIME within them – layer by layer, stone by stone. In the cloister, mythical creatures tell stories of growth and decay, and of the constant change that is part of all things. On the southern wall, the large Last Judgement fresco reminds us that every ending also holds a new beginning.

In the small Domitian Chapel south of the church, the legend of Saint Domitian lives on. Domitian was a Slavic duke whose son drowned in the lake. In his despair, he had the water level lowered, found his son and vowed to build a church on that very spot. From then on, he embraced the new faith and ordered the thousand statues of pagan gods worshipped around the lake to be thrown into its depths. Over TIME, this gave rise to the name Millstatt, derived from the Latin mille statuae, meaning “a thousand statues”.

Up here, at the ZEITplatz, the meaning behind Domitian’s story becomes tangible – a place that invites you to become still and creates space for your own TIME. Where the vastness of the lake and the silhouette of the abbey merge in the distance, you begin to sense that letting go can be the beginning of something new – and that sometimes TIME needs to stand still for change to take place.

Right by the natural swimming pond at Hotel Trattnig, where water lilies bloom like little islands of tranquillity and the air is filled with the gentle sounds of nature, you’ll find TIME for happiness. The quiet laughter of children mingles with the rustling of the wind and the soft lapping of the water – a melody of life that carries the moment. All around, a garden unfolds in shades of fir green and rose red, dotted with old fruit trees – a place where TIME becomes visible: in blossoming, ripening and the quiet return of the seasons.

Here at the ZEITplatz, you can feel TIME slowing down and turning into happiness – a quiet encounter with yourself, nature and the present moment. Because TIME for happiness means arriving fully in the here and now. Breath, gaze and heart come together at the same moment. The water reflects the moment, bringing it into clear focus. The reeds reach towards the light, swaying gently in the breeze and teaching us serenity. Slowly and quietly, the water lilies open – a symbol of how growth and unfolding take TIME. Together, they invite you to feel TIME – as a gift of the moment.

And if you wish, take a dip in the natural swimming pond, feel the freshness on your skin and let the water carry you – an element that has always taught us to let go and be present in the here and now. Every stroke through the clear water becomes a conscious moment – light, free and revitalising, almost like immersing yourself in TIME itself.

And so TIME for happiness unfolds: in the sparkle of water droplets on the reeds, in the awakening of the water lilies and in the wonder of children. Happiness is right here – tangible, present, in the here and now.

Here, where the breath of centuries mingles with the scent of the trees, the lake sparkles and the mountains stand guard over the horizon, the ZEITplatz invites you to embrace the present moment and recognise that every minute is precious – a moment that stays with you when you give it TIME.

Barbara-Egger-Park, created in 1880 as the monastery’s garden, carries the traces of many eras within it. It is considered Upper Carinthia’s first tourist leisure facility and was already a place for people to come together during the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. From the 1960s until the turn of the millennium, it became a popular venue for celebrations among visitors and locals alike – a place where TIME was shared and celebrated together.

Today, the park continues to invite encounters with nature, with yourself and with the present moment. From here, the view stretches across Lake Millstätter See towards Seeboden, over the town with its historic abbey complex and across the gentle mountain landscape.

The viewing tower, built in 1880 above the rocky slope, forms the heart of the park – a witness to TIME that connects past and present.

As the day draws to a close, light installations by OchoReSotto transform the tower into a stage for TIME – a poetic spectacle in which the light of today illuminates the tower, while the structure itself carries the stories of days gone by. For a moment, past and present meet – a quiet moment when TIME becomes connection.