Feld am See | 2 Crystal-Clear Lakes & Alpine Wildlife Park

The village of Feld am See is located in the heart of the Gegendtal Valley in central Carinthia. The valley is a pleasant tourist destination, especially for locals. It features two clear lakes surrounded by forested mountains, an Alpine wildlife park, hiking trails for summer days, and skiing and ice-skating activities in the winter.

The Gegendtal Valley begins at the western part of Lake Ossiach near Villach and extends to Lake Millstatt (Millstätter See). The valley is characterized by green expanses, some of which are forested, as well as mountain peaks belonging to the Alpine range known as the Nockberge. Several small villages are scattered throughout the valley:

Feld am See
Treffen am Ossiacher See
Arriach
Afritz am See
Radenthein

One of the main villages in the valley, which attracts visitors throughout the year, is Feld am See, located right on the shore of Lake Brennsee, also known as Lake Feldsee. The village began to develop in the 18th century and today has about 1,800 residents. The village has a variety of good hotels and guest houses. If you’d like to stay in the village, you can find a list of recommended places in this area here (service provided by Booking.com).

The Bathing Lakes Near Feld am See

Local legend tells that a thousand years ago, a formidable giant named Mirnock lived in the valley. The giant fell in love with the daughter of one of the local fishermen and kidnapped her to his abode. The beautiful fisherman’s daughter managed to escape, and her tracks vanished. In a rage over his loss, the giant Mirnock threw a huge stone into the heart of the large lake that was in the valley, thus splitting it into two smaller lakes: Lake Afritzer See and Lake Brennsee.

Lake Afritzersee stretches for 1.6 kilometers and is only about 340 meters wide. You can walk around the lake on a well-maintained path that is about 3.5 kilometers long. The lake’s water is so clear that it is considered drinkable, and in the summer, its temperature reaches 25 degrees Celsius.

Lake Brennsee is quite similar in size to Lake Afritzersee and is surrounded by high, beautiful mountains. The water in this lake is also extremely clear, and in the summer, it reaches a comfortable temperature of 25 degrees Celsius.

These lakes are a popular spot for swimming and water sports on hot summer days, especially since entry to their northern parts is free.

Summer Fun in Feld am See

The beautiful lakes, numerous sunny days, and high mountains are a wonderful combination indeed. Many visitors spend their summer vacation on the lake shores. In the lake, there are various options for water sports such as paddleboarding or kayaking. Outside the lake, there are many seating areas for those who want to sunbathe in the warm sun.

You can combine relaxation and fun at the lakes with a walk in nature. There are easy hiking trails around the lakes and more challenging trails to the peaks of the nearby mountains. A recommended trail starts from the Wegerhütte cabin and reaches the summit of Wöllaner Nock. The walk takes about 3 hours and 40 minutes round trip. At the top of the peak, there is a wonderful view of the entire area.

Winter Fun in Feld am See

The high Nockberge mountains near the village offer 100 kilometers of diverse ski slopes for all levels. From the village, there is a free bus that runs during the ski season directly to the nearby ski resort (and to the famous spa in the town of Bad Kleinkirchheim). You can find information about this bus schedule here.

Besides skiing, you can also enjoy ice skating. On cold winter days, the two lakes freeze completely. The thick ice layer of the lakes is particularly suitable for ice skating. You can skate across the lake while enjoying the views of the snow-capped mountains! Truly a wonderful experience. Additionally, you can rent sleds and speed down the nearby hills. Information on exact rental locations can be obtained at the Feld am See village visitor center.

The Alpine Wildlife Park Near Feld am See

The Alpine Wildlife Park is a private initiative of the local Scherzer family. The father of the family initially established a small reserve for breeding deer, but the place was soon expanded, and about 30 species of animals from the region were added. The park combines living areas for animals such as red deer, wild boars, raccoons, llamas, peacocks, sheep, goats, ibex, and more, with a museum featuring animals (mostly taxidermy) from different parts of the world.

The park’s complexes include:

Wildlife Area: An 11-hectare area where Alpine wildlife roams freely. You can walk through this part at a leisurely pace (even with strollers) for about 45 minutes and observe the animals and the beautiful valley landscapes.
The African Experience: A 500-square-meter exhibition area displaying about 50 types of animals from the African continent. The animals are taxidermied, and among them, you can see a giraffe, wild cats, antelopes, elephants, buffalo, zebras, baboons, crocodiles, and more. Interesting African art objects hang on the exhibition walls. Additionally, an educational film about animals in Africa is shown in the multimedia room within this complex.
The World of Bears: In this 400-square-meter complex, you can be impressed by a variety of wildlife from Canada. The exhibition features many taxidermied bears, bison, moose, pronghorn, mountain goats, sheep, wolves, lynxes, beavers, eagles, and more. For children, there is a special place called the Bear Cave where an educational film about the exhibited animals is shown.
Fish Museum: This complex has a large aquarium with fish species typical of the region’s lakes and rivers. There is also a large butterfly collection on display.
Petting Zoo: For the little ones, there is a cute petting zoo with animals like goats, kids, ponies, llamas, guinea pigs, chicks, and more.
Playground: At the beginning of 2018, a fun play area for children was built on site. Children can play in the playground, go down the slide, spin on the carousel, or swing on the swings. Additionally, there are play areas related to the world of farms and nature.

Additional Essential Information for Visiting the Alpine Wildlife Park

Opening Hours:

From May 1st to September 30th: Open every day from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
In October: Open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Costs:

Adult – €15
Child (4-14) – €7
Free entry for holders of the Carinthia Card (Kärnten Card).

Official Website

The official website of the town

Address:

Bernliegerweg 5, 9544 Schattseite

Map:

After visiting the park, you can go back to enjoy one of the lakes. If it starts to rain and gets chilly, you can drive to the pampering spa in Bad Kleinkirchheim.