Kartitsch: Winter Hiking, Art and Cross-Country Skiing

Discover Kartitsch as a winter hiking village

Kartitsch combines winter activities, public art and opportunities for spending time together. Since 2018, the village has been Austria’s first winter hiking village. For trip planning, it is particularly interesting that eight certified winter hiking trails are available. The signposted routes are maintained and cleared throughout the winter. This allows you to plan your stay around different interests: you can set aside a day for a winter hike, discover the local culture or combine various sporting activities.

Winter Trails Between Nature and Village

A special natural feature awaits you on the Schustertal winter hiking trail. There are massive erratic boulders from the last Ice Age. This gives the trail a clear connection to natural history and provides a tangible point of reference for anyone who wants to appreciate not only the landscape while hiking, but also how it was formed. The existing signposts and the maintenance of the winter hiking trails help with orientation during the cold season, without requiring you to base your daily planning on a specific trail duration.

Those who prefer to travel on cross-country skis will find the 10 km-long Dorfberg high-altitude trail in Kartitsch. It is described as a cross-country route of medium difficulty.

Art, History and Trail Experiences

The “Oswald Kollreider” Artists’ Trail begins at the municipal centre in Kartitsch and leads via the meadow path to St. Oswald. Along the way, it connects works of public art in both parts of the village. The trail is suitable as a cultural focus for a stay in which you want to discover art not only in a single building, but along a route through the village.

The soldiers’ cemetery is also one of the listed landmarks in Kartitsch. It is located on a small hill southeast of the village centre, near the church. Those interested in history and places of remembrance can include this site in their daily itinerary. In addition, the first stage of long-distance trail 1753 from Kartitsch to the Kreuzberg Pass was completed and signposted in June 2023. This specific stage adds a longer trail experience to the range of options, without implying anything about further sections of the long-distance trail.

Time Together and Suitable Accommodation

For families with different interests, the Kartitsch Sports and Leisure Centre offers a multifunctional play area, a children’s playground and a tennis and football pitch. These options can complement a more active part of the day if not all travellers want to choose the same hiking or cross-country skiing route. This creates an itinerary in which nature, exercise, art and play can all find a place alongside one another.

When searching for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Kartitsch, it is therefore worthwhile to first determine your preferred focus. Winter hikers will look at the eight well-maintained routes, cross-country skiers will consider the 10 km-long Dorfberg high-altitude trail, and culture-minded travellers will include the Artists’ Trail or the soldiers’ cemetery in their itinerary.

If you would like to compare other destinations, the portal also features Matrei in Osttirol, Prägraten am Großvenediger, Raneburg, Niedermauern, Kals am Großglockner, Hopfgarten in Defereggen, Untertilliach and Innervillgraten.

For the overarching travel overview: Lienz.