Klopeiner See

The little town of Bleiburg (479m/1,572ft; pop. 4,000) is situated on the River Freistritz between two wooded hills. Its name (Blei = "lead") is derived from the lead mines which were once worked in this region. It still has a number of churches of the 15th, 16th and 18th C., as well as a 16th C. castle (above the town to the east). About 6km/3.75mi southwest of Bleiburg, are Globasnitz and Hemmaberg.

7km/4.5mi beyond Ebendorf, we reach the village of Globasnitz, with an interesting Romanesque charnel house with 16th C. frescos. During Roman times this was the settlement of Iuenna; archaeological excavations have unearthed the foundations of houses and a system of under-floor heating, as well as coins. A visit is recommended to the Globasnitz local museum (Heimatmuseum; open May-Oct.), which displays some of the finds from the digs at Hemmaberg; of particular interest are the early Christain mosaics depicting animals and birds, including a peacock symbolizing immortality.

Southwest of the Klopeiner See lies Wildenstein, to the south of which are the Wildenstein Falls (20 minutes' walk), where the water tumbles down 52m/170ft from a cleft in the rock.