S.Are you “allergic” to programs and, for travel destinations, do you prefer to follow the inspiration of the moment? Here are some ideas for last minute holidays.
In the cool of the Austrian lakes
The landscape of the southernmost land of Austria, Carinthia, is perfect for relaxing and fresh holidays, thanks to the thousands of lakes, many of which are suitable for swimming, with comfortable access, transparent waters at pleasant temperatures, such as that of the Klopeiner lake (klopeinersee.at) on the sunny side of the Alps. A little lower, 26 °, the average of Whörtersee (woerthersee.com), the largest lake in Carinthia, where to sip a cocktail at sunset, perhaps after a day dedicated to water sports, surrounded by the Belle Époque villas that inspired Brahms and Mahler. Don’t miss a tour of the historic center of Klagenfurt.
Another destination for this hot summer: the turquoise waters of Lake Faak (faakersee.at), the southernmost of Austria. Climbing to the top of the Mittagskogel you can enjoy the best view of the lake. Returning to its shores, a canoe ride allows you to discover the secrets of marsh fauna and flora. For the more romantic, there is an island in the middle of the lake the Inselhotel (inselhotel.at). The highest swimming lake in the Alps is the Weissensee (weissensee.com). Here children can practice the fish-watching using special glasses with anti-reflective lenses, for a clear view of the underwater world. Kids and adults, on the other hand, have fun with water skiing, wakeboarding, parasailing, rafting and canyoning, sup, sailing and windsurfing, diving and canoeing.
Throughout southern Carinthia until September (Monday to Friday) with the Aktiv Card Südkärnten (carinthia.at) free sports programs are available. Try the tour of the six lakes, a day trip of 54 kilometers, suitable for the whole family (suedkaernten.at).
Luxembourg green
Few know that the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, that small state of 2,586 square meters between Belgium, Germany and France, boasts the second highest density of starred restaurants per inhabitant after Japan, and four Unesco sites. One of these, the old part of the city of Luxembourg, its neighborhoods and the imposing fortifications of Vauban, can be toured in about three hours by e-bike with a guided tour from an App (luxembourg-city.com). The Grand Duchy is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiastswith an extensive network of trails such as the Minett Trail (minetttrail.lu), from Clemency to Dudelange or Bettembourg: 90 kilometers well indicated between open cast iron mines and woods (when the mines were closed this whole area became a nature reserve and in 2020 it was recognized by Unesco as a Biosphere), the Fond de Gras, a valley dotted with mining tunnelsand the Haard-Hesselsbierg-Staebierg nature reserve that cross the territory called Terres Rouges, to be covered in several days by returning to sleep in the capital, or staying in the Kabaisercher, huts for hikers. For a full immersion in nature there is the 11.5 kilometer route in the Manternacher Fiels nature reserve. It is a path between old trees, ferns, rare plants and streams: you walk through the forest to Wasserbillig, where the Sûre flows into the Moselle (visitluxembourg.com).
Zagreb, the charm of old Europe
The green heart of Zagreb, the elegant and lively capital of Croatia, beats in the gardens and parks, as well as in its “sea”: Jarun Lake, ideal for swimming and water sports. It is a city to go around comfortably by bicycle (infozagreb.hr), but for the laziest there are eco-taxis. Divided between Upper and Lower Towns (joined by the funicular, the city’s oldest means of public transport), Zagreb surprises with its Austro-Hungarian architecture.
To cool off there are also the beaches of Lake Bundek, in Novi Zagreb, next to the Sava river, where, in addition to swimming, you can soak up the sun.and, grilling or keeping fit with the health trail. For those who want to relax and walk barefoot on the grass: picnic on 22 and 29 July and 5 and 12 August in Vranicanijeva poljan, in the upper part of Zagreb, which becomes a gastrooasis with organic food and drinks. Admission is free, you just need to bring the plaid. The Zagreb Card is useful, valid for 24 (13 euros) or 72 hours (18 euros) to get on public transport and to enter the three museums of the city.
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