Gut Ottmanach "Josefhof"

The 600 year old Ottmanach Estate lies in idyllic unspoilt countryside at the foot of the Magdalensberg with stunning views over the Magdalensberg mountains bordering Slovenia and Italy, both only 45 minutes away by car. The Estate's origins date back to the 12th Century when it was one of a handful of Royal estates owned by the Duke of Carinthia.
The working farm is fully organic, growing crops like maize, soyabeans and grain in rotation. All the water comes from natural springs on the Estate and all heating is provided by burning woodchips sourced from our own woods.
We also make our own schnaps from apples and pears in the orchards and age it in glass flagons in the cellars; the Ottmanach schnaps is sold in the UK.
There are two lakes, stocked with fish.
The charming village of Ottmanach with its gasthaus and Baroque church lies just behind the house. From 600 m above sea level the views of the river Drau and the Karawanken mountains beyond are breathtaking.
The Dower House at Ottmanach is perfect for holidays at any time of year:
The winters can be very cold with high snowfall; so skiing, toboganning, and skating on the lakes all form a regular part of winter life.
The summers in these southern latitudes close to Italy are very hot - often 30 degrees centigrade. Carinthia is dotted with beautiful lakes ideal for swimming, sailing and waterskiing. The Estate even has one of its own - The Kuess lake, 300 yards long with its own hut, jetty, boat, fishing rods and 16 seater picnic table and BBQ.
By arrangement with the Estate it is also possible to play tennis or go Roedeer shooting or even play snooker.
There are 5 bicylcles for family expeditions.The woods behind the house stretch unbroken for hundreds of miles over mountains and valleys. Trekking and hiking is popular; the mountain tops always tempting with another beautiful church and unspoilt gasthaus.
300 yards from the Dower House are the livery riding stables owned and run by the Estate. From here, you can ride out into the woods or simply practise under instruction in the school.
Culturally, Carinthia has a truly wonderful array of early 13th century cathedrals, Middle Ages castles, enchanting ruins and Roman remains. As a meeting point between East and West this province bears grand witness to a fascinating 2000 year old history of Roman occupation, Turkish invasions and the grandeur of the Austrian Hungarian Empire.

Within 1 hour's drive, you can reach 5 of the best ski resorts in Carinthia  all with sizeable lift systems coveing a significant area. Snowfall is usually excellent and the resorts go up to 2000 metres.We can advise you on how and where to rent skis and equipment.
The top 5 resorts are the Turrach, Kleinkircheim, the Gerlitzen, the Petzen and Nassfeld.
Please click on the websites below for more information.
We also have 2 amazing large outdoor skating lakes, (the Hörzendorfersee and the Längsee) within 20 minutes and they usually are frozen for a good part of the winter and also an indoor rink at Althofen (30 mins ) where you can always skate or play ice hockey.
The Estate will provide skates and toboggans free of charge.
Higher up the mountain on which the Estate is situated is a 2 KM toboggan run. The area is awash with good dedicated toboggan runs which we can guide you to.

Good food is a part of any proper holiday and the family owned and run gasthauses of the neighbourhood are excellent. Their inspiration comes from the myriad influences of the great central european Habsburg empire: Goulasch from Hungary, cakes and pastries from Vienna, knoedels, schnitzels, a great baking tradition, trout and crayfish from the freshwater lakes and streams, and pasta and salads influenced by nearby Italy.
Austria now has some of the finest white and indeed red wines, produced by new wine makers in a great renaissance that has been going on for the last 20 years.Carinthia's historical heritage is hard to miss and a source of endless expeditions and wonder.
Here are but a few of the most notable examples:
Maria Saal - one of the most beautiful Romanesque cathedrals in this part of Europe.
Hochosterwitz - one of the greatest Citadels in Central Europe that kept the invading turks at bay and was the model for the Snow White and Seven Dwarfs Disney film.
The Carinthian Summer - a world famous programme of opera, theatre and music that takes places around the Ossiacher See.
The Magdalensberg Roman remains - above Ottmanach on top of the Magdalensberg lies the former capital of the Roman province of Noricum.