LIENZ

Lienz is at 720m and with a population of about 13,000 is the largest city in Austria with extensive XC trails. The city straddles two rivers at their junction and contains many old buildings with some relics dating from the 13^th century. Facilities include ice skating, indoor swimming, sauna, tobogganing, walking trails, a thirteenth century castle that might be open, as well as a downhill ski area.

Access is best by train from Salzburg or from Innsbruck via Italy, both about three hours. Venice is the closest Italian city.

Accommodation on the other side of the Drau river in Lienz, is closer to the Loipen and only a short walk into the city centre which is quite compact and near the railway station.

The Lienz Dolomitenlauf Loppet commences at Lienz and loops and winds down the valley for about 50 km as far as Oberdrauburg.  Skating and classical tracks are set. At the Lienz end the valley is open (see photo) and the track winds back and forth allowing the skier to look back to where they came from. This valley is in the shade of the Dolomites and there are magnificent hoar frost displays some mornings and in some areas possibly for days. Here a 4km loop links the villages of Amlach and Tristach. At one point six different church spires can be seen. The round trip to Lavant is 20km or one can go further down valley, crossing the river to visit Nikolsdorf, or continue on passing by steep rock cliffs to Pirkach and on to Oberdrauburg. The snow is not as reliable lower down the valley. By following a trail up the Drau valley for 10km the village of Thal is reached. Another trail goes up the Isel Valley for 15 km but is within sight of a busy road for much of the distance. All trips are best planned as skiing out and back but there is a bus service from Thal and the train passes through Oberdrauburg and Nikolsdorf.

There is a lot of variety in the scenery that makes up for the lack of hills. There are wide open spaces, forest trails, tracks winding through villages and farmyards, the track follows the river for a time and downstream the valley narrows. The Thal trail follows the fast flowing Drau and there are some steep frozen creeks running into it. The photo shows hoar frost near Lavant, a village that is in permanent shade in the winter. It is often misty through the day and can be chilly but there are bench seats located in the ocaissional sunny spot. Approaching Lavant the track winds along negotiating rows of trees and open ditches until the skier turns past a row of trees and suddenly high up in the mist appears the church at Lavant. It is located about 70m up the hill beyond the village and makes an amazing and unexpected sight.

In this area as in many other Austrian districts the XC trails are groomed on forest roads or bicycle or walking trails. It is common to see signs for these other trails with the name of a location and a number, eg  Thal 1½ St.  This is pointing to Thal and indicates that it is 1½ hours walking time to it. Some signs will have km. indicated.

The village of St Jacob in Defereggental is about one hour away by bus. It is at 1400m and has snow lasting longer than Lienz. It can be visited from Lienz for the day but don't miss the last bus back.

Lienz gets it's snowfalls from the south. The 2001 season was poor with the Loppet running on poor snow on a shortened course.

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