Stage 21: Alpina Antica Trail | ET21: Dellach in Drautal/ Gailbergsattel - Mauthen

The stage starts in Dellach at the municipal office with the tourist information. You go a few meters west along the street (towards the church), turn left behind the Taurer house and reach the federal highway along a stream. 100 m along it to the left and then you turn right into the street towards Raßnig. You pass the railway and the Drava and follow the street through a right curve to Raßnig. Here you turn left and after a few meters you see the yellow hiking trail signs, which point right onto a forest road (Steiner Alm or "AV Wege" no. 228, 229, 230). You follow now 7 km always the largest forest road in switchbacks through the forest uphill (always following the signs Steiner Alm or "AV Wege" no. 228, 229, 230 up to a hunting lodge. Behind it there is a fork in the road: since the left path towards Steiner Alm no longer exists completely, you continue right along the forest road. Soon you come to a gate – behind it you take the left forest road and hike through open alpine terrain to the lonely Fürstliche Alm (1.8 km from the hunting lodge).

Here you choose the right forest road towards Dellacher Alm and shortly reach a nameless gentle saddle between Jukbichl and Jauken. The ridge height of the Gailtal Alps is reached and you have a wonderful view of the Carnic Alps. You walk past the Plonalmlacke to a right-turning alpine road towards "Dellacher Alm – Stelzling". It takes you west at a constant height to a fork right in front of Dellacher Alm. You choose the left alpine path and walk right past the alpine farm. You follow the sign "Stelzling" no. 240 to the right, until a few meters later hiking trail no. 240 "Stelzling left downhill" leads. It takes you quite steeply but nicely through forest 250 meters downhill to the Stelzlin hunting huts (1,387 m).

Now 30 m right up the alpine road until on the left hiking trail no. 228 leads down over a meadow towards Dobra-Kötschach. You walk downhill through the meadow until shortly after the path leads back into the forest. Down the path to a forest road, straight ahead, past a tool shed on the right and follow the forest road. At the right curve (about 30 m later) over the path to the left through the forest to the lower forest road. You cross this one (marked wooden stamp) and walk through the next piece of forest to an old tractor road. Straight up a counter ascent until you reach the very good forest road again (signpost "Dobra – Kötschach no. 228"). Follow this forest road about 400 meters downhill to the next signpost, which is located on the left side of the road. Opposite on the right is a nice resting place below Martele with views of Kötschach-Mauthen and the Carnic Alps around the Plöcken Pass.

Right down the old meadow track and past the top of a house again into the forest. Shortly you come onto the paved road. This road a little uphill directly to the farm of Dobra at an altitude of 1,056 m.

A signpost leads you further down the meadows on the left directly to another signpost with a stamping pad. Here you again have a nice view into the valley but also of the Blumenberg Mussen. Right over the pasture areas and always crossing horizontally on the path (wooden stamp), past a Martele and further over the meadow path downhill to the next signpost with the inscription Kötschach. Now downhill to the lower meadow path and then further over the meadow (ruined hut) into the forest. Through the forest to the crossroads and

sharp left downhill further over the well-marked forest road. At the next signpost left further to the bridge (signpost) and down the asphalt road until you reach the federal highway (B110).

Here you can stop at the opposite forest tavern. But you also follow the federal highway for about 100 m to the right, cross it and turn left into a path. After a few minutes you cross the Laaser Bach over a bridge and 50 m after the bridge turn left into a hiking trail. You follow it quite idyllically always along the Laaser Bach towards Kötschach, until it turns into a driveway and after another 150 m crosses the Laaser Bach. Now you stand in the middle of Kötschach at the Bakery Café Confectionery Matitz.

Left further and soon to the Kötschach Cathedral – the visit is definitely worthwhile. Over the sidewalk through the town center of Kötschach and over the Gail bridge to the mountaineering village Mauthen. Your stage ends at the village square of Mauthen – the Loncium private brewery is located immediately east about 70 m from the village square.

Highlights Saumhandel:  Loncium Private Brewery – Brewery tour related to the time of Saumhandel (Mauthen; 46.662111, 13.000539)
The small private brewery Loncium is now the most famous small private brewery in Carinthia, which has gained supraregional recognition among connoisseurs, especially because of its experimental spirit.
Included services: The history of Loncium beers Tour through the beer manufactory Interesting facts about the raw materials and their origin

More information: https://www.bierhotel-loncium.at/biermanufaktur/

Bakery Café Confectionery Matitz (Kötschach; 46.677942, 13.005349)
Saddler experience offer from own hand: Slow Food baking workshop in the bakery master's bakery.