01 - Overview
The Lavant Cycle Route (R10) runs the length of the Lavant valley across some 58 kilometres - downhill from Reichenfels in the upper valley to Lavamünd, where the Lavant joins the Drau and the route merges into the Drau Cycle Path (R1). From its junction with the Zirbenland route past the spa town of Bad St. Leonhard and the district capital Wolfsberg to the Benedictine abbey of St. Paul, the almost continuously descending route rolls through a sunny landscape framed by the Koralpe and Saualpe ranges. From Wolfsberg it follows the river closely for some thirty quiet, car-free kilometres - with a few stretches alongside busier roads in the upper valley.
The Lavant Cycle Route is the continuous spine of the Lavant valley, the sun-blessed orchard of Carinthia between the Saualpe and Koralpe ranges. It starts in the north at Reichenfels, where the Zirbenland route branches off over the Obdacher Sattel to the Mur Cycle Path in Styria, and follows the young Lavant downstream. Via the spa town of Bad St. Leonhard im Lavanttal - with the Gomarn castle ruin and the late-Gothic Leonhardikirche - the path reaches the upper valley floor; the section from Reichenfels to Frantschach-St. Gertraud shares the federal road in places and is the one less family-friendly stretch. In Wolfsberg, the district capital with its old town and the castle above the river, the character changes: from here the route accompanies the Lavant for some thirty largely car-free kilometres through floodplain woods and fields. Via St. Andrä, within reach of the St. Andrä lakes, it reaches St. Paul im Lavanttal, whose Benedictine abbey is known as the "treasure house of Carinthia". The finish is a flat stretch with a geological trail near Ettendorf down to Lavamünd, where the Lavant joins the Drau and the R10 meets the Drau Cycle Path (R1). Mostly paved and without any appreciable counter-climb, the route is easy to ride; from Wolfsberg on it is one of the quietest river routes in southern Carinthia, while the upper valley calls for a few road kilometres.
- Regions
- Carinthia
- Start
- Reichenfels
- Finish
- Lavamünd
- Surface
- Paved
- Network
- Regional
- Best season
- April - October
- Signposting
- fully signposted
- Road-bike friendly
- Yes · Fully pavedpartly estimated
100 % paved, effectively paved throughout.
02 - Stages
3 stages · 58 km
01Reichenfels - WolfsbergReichenfels · Bad St. Leonhard · Frantschach-St. Gertraud · Wolfsberg25 km
Setting off in the upper Lavant valley at Reichenfels, where the Zirbenland route branches over the Obdacher Sattel to the Mur Cycle Path. Downhill via the spa town of Bad St. Leonhard with the Gomarn castle ruin and the Leonhardikirche; between Wiesenau and Frantschach-St. Gertraud the path shares the federal road in places, before reaching the district capital Wolfsberg with its old town and castle.
- Ascent
- 30 m
- Descent
- 390 m
- Duration
- approx. 2-2.5 h
- Surface
- Paved, some service tracks
Surface (measured): paved
02Wolfsberg - St. Paul im LavanttalWolfsberg · St. Andrä · St. Paul im Lavanttal22 km
From Wolfsberg the finest part begins: some twenty largely car-free kilometres close to the Lavant through floodplain woods and fields. Via St. Andrä, within reach of the St. Andrä lakes, the stage rolls to St. Paul im Lavanttal, whose Benedictine abbey - the "treasure house of Carinthia" - rewards a long stop.
- Ascent
- 10 m
- Descent
- 125 m
- Duration
- approx. 1.5-2 h
- Surface
- Paved, some service tracks
Surface (measured): paved
03St. Paul im Lavanttal - LavamündSt. Paul im Lavanttal · Ettendorf · Lavamünd11 km
The short final stage follows the Lavant on the level out of the valley; near Ettendorf a geological trail runs alongside. At Lavamünd the Lavant joins the Drau and the R10 meets the Drau Cycle Path (R1) - from here you can easily ride on along the Drau.
- Ascent
- 5 m
- Descent
- 34 m
- Duration
- approx. 0.75-1 h
- Surface
- Paved
Surface (measured): paved
03 - Elevation
Elevation across the full distance - move the cursor to read altitude and kilometre.
Elevation profile over 58 km. Ascent 45 m, descent 549 m. Lowest point 344 m, highest point 850 m.
Elevation from OSM geometry + Digital Terrain Model (DGM) Austria (10 m).
Hover the profile to see the point on the map - and vice versa.
04 - POIs & Services
- Zirbenland route junction (Obdacher Sattel → Mur Cycle Path)
- Gomarn castle ruin & Leonhardikirche
- Old town & Wolfsberg castle
- Car-free Lavant section (about 30 km)
- St. Andrä lakes
- Benedictine abbey of St. Paul ("treasure house of Carinthia")
- Ettendorf geological trail
- Lavant mouth at the Drau (Drau Cycle Path R1 junction)
Services along the route
- Bike serviceCycle workshops in Wolfsberg and St. Paul im Lavanttal; smaller bases in Bad St. Leonhard and Lavamünd.
- E-bikeCharging and rental stations in Wolfsberg, St. Andrä, St. Paul and Lavamünd, and in several towns of the Lavant valley.
- Drinking waterFountains and inns in the market towns; well supplied along the flat valley floor.
- Food & drinkInns, wine taverns and cafés in Bad St. Leonhard, Wolfsberg, St. Andrä, St. Paul and Lavamünd - the Lavant valley is cider and orchard country.
Service points along the route
- Drinking water14
- Repair station4
- Bike shop2
- Charging station17
Service points from OpenStreetMap. Coverage may be incomplete, some fountains are seasonal - verify before you rely on them.
05 - Impressions
Bridge carrying the cycle path over the Lavant near Lavamünd, the foot of the valley where the Lavantradweg meets the Drau Cycle Path.Photo: Radweg und Brücke über die Lavant bei Lavamünd · Naturpuur · CC BY-SA 4.0 View across the broad floor of the Lavant valley to the cloud-wrapped Saualpe, the sunny orchard landscape along the Lavantradweg.Photo: Blick über das Lavanttal zur Saualpe · Hangman'sDeath · CC0 The Benedictine abbey of St. Paul, known as the "treasure house of Carinthia", above the meadows along the Lavantradweg.Photo: Benediktinerstift St. Paul im Lavanttal · Mefusbren69 · Public Domain
06 - Public transit
- Koralmbahn (St. Paul im Lavanttal station)Since December 2025 the new Koralmbahn stops at St. Paul im Lavanttal - with Railjet and InterCity services toward Klagenfurt and Graz (journey times still settling after the launch, check before travelling). St. Paul is the best gateway into the valley. Wolfsberg is connected to the network via regional and S-Bahn services.
- Lavamünd & seasonal RadbusLavamünd itself has no rail link (the Lavanttalbahn section St. Paul - Lavamünd was discontinued in 1997 and dismantled in 2016); from Lavamünd, buses run toward Bleiburg/Klagenfurt or you continue on the Drau Cycle Path R1. In summer a Radbus operates in the Lavant valley to bridge the upper valley - check current dates with Kärntner Linien.
The best rail gateway since December 2025 is the Koralmbahn station at St. Paul im Lavanttal (Railjet/IC toward Klagenfurt and Graz); Wolfsberg is reachable via regional and S-Bahn services. Lavamünd at the foot of the valley has no rail link - continue from there by bus or along the Drau Cycle Path R1. The Lavant route is best ridden downhill from Reichenfels to Lavamünd; check timetables before travelling, as the rail network is newly reorganised.
07 - GPX & TCX download
Download for GPS devices & apps
Clean track with elevation - imports as a single tour, compatible with Komoot, Garmin, Wahoo, Strava, RideWithGPS, OsmAnd.
Download stages individually (3)
Route derived from OpenStreetMap geometry - may differ slightly from on-the-ground signage. © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0) · Elevation © DGM Austria (CC BY 3.0 AT). Redistribute with attribution.