Vacation in St. Jakob in Defereggen

The hospitable village of St. Jakob is located in the Defereggen Valley in the northwest of East Tyrol. At an impressive 1389 meters above sea level, just over 900 inhabitants have settled here. However, there is plenty of space for natural areas between the individual houses and hamlets, as although St. Jakob is the second largest municipality in the Lienz district, it is considered a particularly sparsely populated area with only 5 inhabitants per km2. Surrounded by an impressive backdrop – with more than 50 surrounding peaks rising over 3000 meters high – this is the ideal setting for a break in untouched nature. Those who want to relax and simply live carefree for a day will find the perfect place here. The possibilities for holiday activities are diverse: cyclists will find numerous cycle paths and challenging trails, hikers have access to the surrounding mountain world, and culture enthusiasts can explore historically significant treasures from long-forgotten times.

A few days of vacation in the Defereggen Valley will help stressed-out "city dwellers" recharge their "batteries". Taking a break is not difficult in view of the overwhelming beauty of the surrounding nature. Along the way, sometimes a little hidden, gentian and edelweiss sparkle, and rushing mountain streams and glittering mountain lakes provide a refreshing cool-off. The nature in the Defereggen Valley presents itself to the attentive hiker in its most beautiful form. Untouched, original, and naturally, lush meadows line up, interrupted only here and there by a shady grove. Along the way, you can also discover things such as old stone houses from the mining era, the Gothic church of St. Leonhard, the classical building of the church of St. Jakob, clattering mills, a disused mine, and much more.

A vacation in St. Jakob in the Defereggen Valley also means a vacation in the Hohe Tauern National Park. About 123km are located in the nature reserve, which is more than two-thirds of the municipal area. From St. Jakob, you can therefore wonderfully immerse yourself in the experience of the "Hohe Tauern National Park". There are more than 1809m2 of natural areas and countless animal and plant species waiting to be discovered. In addition, the highest mountains and the largest glacier areas in Austria are located here. There is much to marvel at and experience in the national park itself. Experienced guides lead through the protected area; in addition, the nature park houses provide valuable information about the special natural environment of the Alps as well as interesting exhibitions and expeditions.

When the mountain shows its gentle side early in the morning, it's time for a breathtaking natural spectacle. The sun rises slowly over the Defereggen Valley, bathing the dark meadows and forests in a bright, orange light - a magical moment for many people. This can be experienced in the hiking area of Mooseralm. After a 20-minute ascent, you find yourself at the top of the Kleiner Leppleskofel at 2469 meters above sea level. While the delicate rays of the sun make their way, alpine horn tunes sound, providing the musical accompaniment. This unique "performance" of nature lasts only a few minutes, but getting up early is worth it. Before heading back down into the valley, you can fortify yourself with a hearty alpine breakfast.