Holiday home, Austria, Carinthia

falkertsee 13

Falkertsee 13 is located right on the shore of the lake, at an elevation of 1,885 meters. The house number tells part of its story: In the 1970s, this alpine cabin was the thirteenth house built up here, on the edge of Carinthia’s highest ski village. Rustic and weathered on the outside, the house has a pared-back interior, featuring dark wood and a few carefully chosen accents. Through the large windows, the mountain scenery is ever-present—with changing views of the lake and the surrounding alpine meadows. Hostess Annette Payr is behind the interior design. The Munich-based interior designer renovated the cabin with a with a thoughtful mix of old and new. Some elements still evoke a classic mountain hut: two hand-painted farmhouse beds, for example, or the original Jogltisch (a kitchen table typical of the region) that seats up to seven people. Alongside these are a simple gray kitchen, a lounge seat whose backrest can be turned toward the window or the living room as desired, and the Lohberger stove, which runs on wood and pellets and keeps the house warm. Outside are a wood-fired hot tub and a small sauna, both with views of Lake Falkert. In winter, the lake freezes over, the toboggan run passes right past the property, and the ski area’s lifts and slopes are just a few meters’ walk away. In summer, trails lead up to the 2,308-meter-high Falkertspitz and to two via ferrata routes. For children, the Heidi-Alm Adventure Park—with its loop trail and more than a hundred figures from the beloved children’s story—is just a short walk away. Or simply stay put: at the Jogltisch, in the hot tub, or in front of the panoramic window, and watch what the weather is up to over the lake.

WHAT WE LIKE MOST:

That you can see views of the Alpine landscape from every window: the lake, alpine meadows, peaks—and sometimes cows just outside
How well the modern furniture harmonizes with the older pieces
The original Jogltisch and the hand-painted farmhouse beds, which bring a bit of the old alpine hut charm into the house
Mornings on the porch when the sun rises over the mountains and the lake is still quiet
Cooking on the wood-burning stove, or baking a cake in the afternoon
Stepping out of the sauna into the snow in winter, or under the garden shower in summer—or even better, straight into the mountain lake
Nights at 1,885 meters, when there’s hardly a light to be seen all around and the starry sky shines and sparkles
Chance encounters with marmots in the meadows surrounding the house
Lake Falkert as the seasons change: dark blue right outside the door in summer, a frozen, glittering expanse in the middle of the white mountain landscape in winter

GOOD TO KNOW:

60 square meters are divided among three bedrooms and a large living room with a kitchen, dining area, and sitting area, accommodating two to six guests—all bedrooms face the lake.
Inside, there are games for all ages, and outside there’s a private, fenced-in alpine garden with a seating area and a bench.
Traveling by car is recommended: the final kilometers up to Lake Falkert are steep and winding, but well-paved (and the view gets more beautiful with every turn).
The cabin is located right in the middle of the ski area; the lifts and slopes are just a few meters’ walk away. The toboggan run is close to the house, and there are also cross-country ski trails, winter hiking trails, and snowshoe tours.
For families, the ski area offers not only easy slopes but also two magic carpets, a ski school, and Heidi’s Snowpark; the frozen lake also becomes a natural ice rink.
In summer, hiking trails lead directly from the lake into the Nockberge Mountains; from here, you can hike to the 2,308-meter-high Falkert, and two via ferrata routes—the Falkensteig and the Murmelsteig—are also nearby.
For younger guests, the Heidi-Alm is just a few minutes’ walk away—featuring more than a hundred figures, play areas, and marmots.
Falkertsee is located in the heart of the UNESCO Salzburger Lungau & Kärntner Nockberge Biosphere Reserve.
During the off-season, the lodge can be booked for stays of four nights or more; during the main and peak seasons, it is booked In the main and peak seasons, bookings are for full weeks, from Saturday to Saturday