Villacher Alpe

To the southwest of the town, above the Gail valley, rises the Villacher Alpe, an extensive walking and skiing area. A panoramic road (toll payable) 17km/10.5mi long gives access to the area. From the Rosstratte parking lot (1,700m/5,580ft) at the end of the road a chairlift ascends to almost 2,000m/6,560ft; from the upper station it is two hours' climb northwestward to the summit of the Dobratsch (2,166m/7,107ft), the highest peak in the Villacher Alpe, with the Ludwig-Walter-Haus (inn), two chapels and an Alpine garden. Lower down, to the north, lie the little towns of Heiligengeist (800-900m/2,630-2,950ft) and Bad Bleiberg ob Villach (892m/2,928ft), with hot springs (25-30 deg C/77-86 deg F), an open air thermal swimming pool and an