Quirky & Unusual Places to Stay in Carinthia

Stay in a huge honeycomb or lie in the bed glancing at the hayloft and the cow barn: with its project “Quirky & Unusual Places to Stay”, the organisation behind farm holidays in Austria has rethought agritourism striking an innovative and sustainable new path. Unique accommodation - outstanding locations - a remarkable history: guests are invited to change their perspectives and get a thorough understanding of local customs, traditional knowledge and craftsmanship.

Five families from Carinthia who offer farm holidays pursue the idea of creating sustainable and authentic dream destinations by restoring historic buildings. For Astrid and Andreas Rittler, the owners of Gut Schloss Lichtengraben in Bad St. Leonhard in the Lavanttal valley, it’s all about water and fish. They have restored the 100 year-old “Sandhaus” building. Close to the ponds, guests can follow in Mr Sand’s footsteps who used to be the fish warden. Be with the in-crowd, learn how to fish and prepare unusual snack time treats such as fish pretzel sticks, the signature dish.

At Günter and Heike Zeilinger’s farm Natur Gut Lassen in Himmelberg, guests can sleep in the “Stallet”, a part of the barn that has been converted to a room from where you can see the hayloft and the cows. Moreover, they have created a themed walk that helps curious minds to change their perspectives. It allows guests to gain new insights into the circle of life by learning from nature and animals.

How does it feel to sleep in a huge honeycomb? Find out at the Kronhofer family’s honey bee centre in Hermagor. “Life in a beehive” - that’s the main theme here. In a refurbished workroom with a built-in beehive, you can take a close look at the Carniolan honey bee. Besides, the air that is ionised by the bees’ wing beats benefits your health.

At Erwin Sokoup’s farm Familienbauernhof Mesner in the Lesachtal valley, guests can travel back in time. In the restored, historic farmhouse from the 17th century, guests can immerse themselves in an authentic setting without missing modern amenities.

They have already realised several ideas in the Kärntner Nockberge Biosphere Reserve: the Hinteregger family running the organic farm Biobauernhof Hinteregger in St. Oswald is always good for a surprise. Coming soon! 

What all these property owners have in common is their wish to allow guests to recharge their batteries on the one hand and to broaden their horizon on the other. When historic buildings are restored, a great emphasis is placed on sustainability. Local businesses get involved, recycled timber and traditional craftsmanship are largely incorporated and buildings reflect the characteristic features of the region. Unusual, quirky products and creative ideas, extraordinary treats and the first collapsible shopping basket made of Austrian stone pine are topping it off. We want to provide guests with an immersive experience! Get to know the unique history of the region, comprehend life on Alpine mountain cabins and learn about beekeeping, the work in the barn, on the lakeshores and in the woods. This allows you to fully immerse yourself in Austria’s culture and get a lasting impression of the region you’re staying in.

The property owners are striving to build on the foundations that have been laid by their ancestors. They want to encourage people to pass on this mindset to future generations. It’s all about enhancing knowledge, getting to know the place’s history and preserving heritage. In favour of a healthy, sustainable, mindful and respectful new direction in tourism.