ST13 AAT: Millstätter Alpe - Döbriach

Bike-Rastplatz Döbriach

We start our hike at the Alexanderhütte lodge at an altitude of 1,786 metres and hike via a wide roadway towards Kamplnock. The route leads past gently rolling Alpine meadows to the Millstätter Törl, from where there is a view of the Ankogel group with the majestic Hochalmspitze. After a short ascent we reach the Kamplnock, which is the highest point of today’s hike at 2,101 metres. From the summit we enjoy a fabulous view of Lake Millstätter See, which will constantly accompany us as we continue our hike. A hill path paved with garnet pebbles now leads us via the Millstätter Alpe and the Obermillstätter Alpine cross to the Garnet Gate. The cubist designs of ancient Roman and Greek architecture inspired the idea of paying homage to the stock of garnets in the region (incidentally the largest such stock in Europe) with this majestic gate. Although the geometrical shape of the gate seems to defy nature, the earthy colour of the gate creates a harmonious, appealing scene in the landscape. We continue to follow the hill path to the Stana Mandl, and then along a roadway down towards the valley as far as the Lammersdorfer Hütte mountain lodge. From there, after a slight ascent lasting around 40 minutes, we reach the summit at the Jufenkreuz cross at 1,802 metres. The trail then leads on over gentle Alpine meadows back down towards the valley in the direction of the Sappleralm. There we follow the Hasensteig path towards Matzelsdorf. The route leads us through old, scented larch and spruce forests with several clearings which are used as pasture or grazing land. After about 1 ½ hours we reach Matzelsdorf, a village with a church on the high plateau above Lake Millstätter See, where we take hiking trail number 76 via Starfach towards Döbriach.

In Starfach we come to the Hohe Wand viewpoint, which is also called the Jungfernsprung. Legend has it that a beautiful farm girl fleeing from a monk leaped from this rock into Lake Millstätter See and reached the shore alive. However, the monk, who plunged after her, is said to have drowned.

After a further 20 minutes’ walk we reach the tourist information office on the B98 road, which is our arrival point on this stage.