The Taste of Childhood Leads You Here

Do you remember spending your holiday in the sunny south back then, when you were a child? It immediately makes you think of the delicious snacks in the “Buschenschanken”, traditional wine taverns serving home-grown food products exclusively. After having explored the farm and its surroundings, these culinary treats are a revelation! A glass of fresh cow's milk helps you regain your strength. A minute later, you’re dashing off to the green meadow, barefooted. The taste of childhood makes you beam with joy, no matter how many years have passed. Beautiful memories draw you back here. In Carinthia, Slow Food and organic farming are top priorities. On a lot of organic farms, you can learn how food is produced on the farm every day. The combination of local food production and pristine nature makes for an authentic travel experience. Simply take it easy and enjoy life to the fullest on an elegant terrace with lake view or in a rustic mountain cabin.

What used to be a staple for peasants in Carinthia is now making a comeback. Lots of traditional dishes have found their way back to the table: “Kletzenbrot” (pastry with a filling of dried fruit), “Ritschert” (a savoury porridge with barley, beans, vegetables and cured pork), “Frigga” (an omelette with cheese and bacon) or the famous “Kärntner Kirchtagssuppe”. The latter is a special delicacy: a hearty, creamy soup made with five different types of meat. It gets its yellow colour from saffron. What all of them have in common is that they were the farmers’ primary source of energy. And energy is what they needed for the hard work in the forests and fields. Spending your holiday where healthy food comes from - in Carinthia, nothing’s easier than that. In the farmers’ kitchens throughout the province, you can peek over the cooks’ shoulders. Learn how to bake delicious bread or how to seal the famous “Kärntner Käsnudel” - it’s not a technique, it’s an art! The farmers work entirely with what nature gives us.

Which restaurant serves fresh lake trout every day? Where can you buy the best cheeses? Which “Buschenschank” (wine tavern) is open today? Do the popular fairs take place this year? The new Slow Food Guide is a great resource for travellers looking to eat local and includes the culinary highlights of every region. Sample local delicacies, taste the cuisine of Austria’s south and discover the great diversity of its culinary traditions.

In Carinthia, you’ll find a special taste on every corner. Every genuine smile shows you that locally grown food really means something to the people here. This province invites you to get involved and get familiar with traditional skills and handicrafts on the farms. And finally, you will understand one essential thing: good food takes time. Using the precious natural resources in a respectful way, promoting sustainability and safeguarding local products, varieties and species - these matters are valued highly. All of this takes time. But the people here know that it’s worth it. We also invite you to take the time. Come, take it easy and enjoy life to the fullest. Again and again. Here, in Austria’s south.