The Defereggental Valley

The Defereggental, situated in the south-eastern part of the largest Alpine nature reserve Nationalpark Hohe Tauern, is one of Austria’s most beautiful alpine valleys.
Here, hikers, mountaineers and mountain bikers find ideal conditions to pursue their favorite pastimes.

The Eastern Tyrol holiday region comprises the village communities St. Jakob, St. Veit and Hopfgarten that together account for 140 km² of the Hohe Tauern National Park. It is a region that has kept mass tourism at bay and thus preserved its unspoiled natural beauty.

A vast network of biking and hiking trails, including 5 thermal trails, spans the valley and its surrounding mountains such as the Lasörlinggruppe and Deferegger Alpen. In this region visitors find ideal routes for short hikes as well as extended trips.

In autumn the Defereggental landscape shines in vivid colours. This is the very best season to enjoy the beauty of the Hohen Tauern National Park and to explore its majestic mountains, romantic valleys, steep and rugged gorges and lush mountain pastures.

On an area of 1.800 km² the Hohe Tauern National Park spans across the provinces of Carinthia, Salzburg and Tyrol. Visitors are bound to be impressed by the magnificent landscape and its vast dimensions: The park hosts Austria’s highest peaks such as the Großglockner with an altitude of 3.798 m, the largest glaciers of the Eastern Alpine region, e.g. the Pasterze which is the longest glacier tongue of Austria (9 km) and powerful waterfalls like the Krimmler Fälle that pour down 380 m.
On the many nature trails that spread through the park visitors learn more about the local wildlife. Special signs, brochures and park guides provide useful information on the park’s fauna and flora.


The nature trail "Leben am Steilhang" winds through steep mountainsides that have been farmed for ages. Here, visitors witness the hardships of life people in former days experienced in these high altitudes. The Defereggental valley is home of Austria’s oldest alp, the Jagdhausalm, situated 2.000 m above sea level, that was first officially mentioned in the 13th century.
An amazing quantity and variety of plants and animals have found their home in the Hohen Tauern region, though it is a rough environment for any kind of vegetation. One example of the region’s unique flora is the Swiss stone pine, a larch species originating in the Asian taiga. In the Defereggental a special nature trail leads through the Eastern Alp’s largest population of these rare forest species.

The Defereggental valley also boasts a vast variety of animals. Some, such as the capricorns, are better viewed through binoculars, others may come very close: Butterflies are frequent visitors in this reserve. On the nature trail "Im Reich des Apollo" hikers will see some of the 400 different species populating the region.



                Further information: 

Tourismusinformation Defereggental
A-9963 St. Jakob im Defereggental
Tel: +43(0)4873/6360-0 Fax: +43(0)4873/6360-60
e-mail: stjakob@defereggental.at
Internet: www.defereggental-info.at