Walking in Europe

Finished up the Dobratsch Runwandereg today: 78 kms over 4 days. A lovely walk through rural Austria and a circumnavigation of Dobratsch mountain.

Yesterday we left our B&B in Nötsch and walked down to the Gail river crossing it at the highway and then in to the streets of the smaller farm village of Feistritz an der Gail. In fact, stage 3 of the walk yesterday was very much a village to village walk that included Goriach, Draschitz, Hohenthurn, and then into Arnoldstein by the late afternoon. Mostly level walking on pavement or nice trail meant a fairly leisurely pace and time to take pictures (a number of pretty churches) and take a few breaks along the way. At each town the route took us through the town square or through a churchyard with barns and farm courtyards along the lanes. Just very picturesque. Arrived into Arnoldstein (a larger town with more of a mining history) in time to rest the feet before searching for dinner.

Today was stage 4 of the walk where, after a visit to an apotheke (pharmacy) to restock depleted supplies of ibuprofen and tylenol 🤓we walked North out of Arnoldstein crossed the Gail River back to the North side and then enjoyed a very gentle (but long) walk along the river at times then through more forests and through the towns of Oberschütt and Unterschütt. One area of the forest was quite different in vegetation and with scrub trees growing amongst scattered and very old large boulders. The story goes that there was a landslide here from far up on the mountainside that came down and destroyed a town – in 1348. The only structure to survive was the church! After a few kms back along the Gail we headed north again up through a low forested pass with another and longer section of Roman road carved out of the limestone. Centuries of wheel ruts still visible! The road linked Carinthia to Italy two millennia ago… very interesting story about the “Knights of Ras” who made trouble in the area in the Middle Ages and had to be banished by the bishop, but you’ll have to google it 😆. Anyway lots to see and read about on the walk including examples of ancient biodiverse protected meadows still intact and kept separate from grazing.

Great to be back in Villach tonight where we’ll rest up and continue to Salzburg by train tomorrow.