Garnet Gate Lake Millstätter See | TOP hiking tour

Millstätter See. Bad Kleinkirchheim. Nockberge. Official tourist portal

© Franz Gerdl_MBN Tourismus

The Garnet Gate:
My hike with a view
On the way high above Lake Millstätter See in Carinthia

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My HikingTIME
on the way high above Lake Millstätter See

Here I experience an unrivalled lake and mountain panorama!

For lovers hiking along the “Way of Love”, this is the destination. For long-distance hikers who have mastered stage 13 of the Alpe-Adria-Trail, it is a look back at the beginning of their journey and for families it may be the first summit together beyond the 2000 metre mark. For everyone, however, the hike to the Granattor is a TIME with a marvellous view of Carinthia.

Eine Gruppe von Wanderern auf dem Weg zum Granattor, mit Granatsteinen entlang des Pfades © Franz Gerdl_MBN Tourismus

The Millstätter Alpe:
My treasure mountain

The ridge to the north of Lake Millstätter See harbours the largest garnet deposit in the Alps. Until the beginning of the last century, the rock was also mined in the tunnels at the foot of the mountain and processed into the famous Bohemian garnet in Bohemia. The Garnet Gate, which was erected in 2009 as a square with history and a view, is a reminder of this. Its cubic design is modelled on ancient Roman and Greek architecture. Tonnes of garnet stone fill the iron pillars. The large surfaces of the portal tell the story of the carbuncle stone. Just like the ruby-coloured garnet stones, which are washed out of the mountain by rain and snow, the gate is also subject to transience.

Detailaufnahme eines funkelnden Granatsteins, gefunden am Granattor © Franz Gerdl_MBN Tourismus

My mountain panorama

The undisputed highlight of every hike to the Garnet Gate is the last few metres. Passed through together, the Garnet Gate offers a view of the low-lying Lake Millstätter See and the wooded Hochgosch. It separates Lake Millstätter See from the Drau Valley and the town of Spittal. Carinthia's longest river can be followed from the Garnet Gate along a section of around 50 kilometres between Möllbrücke and Villach. From west to east, you can see the Hohe Tauern, the Carnic Alps, the Gailtal Alps and the Karawanken. The striking peaks rise there: Goldeck, Dobratsch, Triglav and, in the far west, the snow-covered Großglockner.

Wanderer genießen die atemberaubende Aussicht vom Granattor aus © Franz Gerdl_MBN Tourismus — .

My hike to the Garnet Gate

The Garnet Gate can be reached on foot via the “Way of Love” or the Enzian Granat Steig. The Granattor hike can be shortened by Nockmobil, car or bike. The starting points are the Millstätter Alm (Schwaigerhütte) and the Lammersdorfer Alm. Both can be reached via well-maintained alpine roads. An overview of the car park capacity can be found HERE!

TIP

Wandern zur Panoramaschaukel © Gert Gruber_MBN Tourismus

TIP

Take a swing ...

Take one swing ...get closer to the sky and let your thoughts fly: Just a 15-minute walk from the Alexander Hut on the Millstätter Alm, there is a box seat that reflects this attitude to life: the panoramic swing "Alexander Hut".

Weg der Liebe © Gert Gruber_MBN Tourismus

A good hour's hike above the Lammersdorfer Hütte is the Garnet Gate. The mighty passageway, whose pillars are filled with thousands of gemstones, is one of the most popular hiking destinations around Lake Millstätter See.

How do I get to the Garnet Gate?

Arrival by car (MAUTSTRAßE)
Starting point: Lammersdorfer Alm car park (Enzian Granatsteig, Sentiero dell'Amore.)

Starting point: Schwaigerhütte car park (Way of Love. Sentiero dell'Amore.)

Travelling with the NOCKMOBIL
... the Nockmobil takes me comfortably to the starting points of the hike (Schwaigerhütte car park, Lammersdorfer Hütte car park)

Bike&Hike to the Garnet Gate
... via the Lammersdorfer Almstraße to the Lammersdorferhütte and onwards on foot

... via the Millstätter Almstraße to the Millstätter Hütte and onwards on foot

On foot from the valley
... via the Alpe Adria Trail

Depending on the route and fitness level, I would calculate around 3:15 hours (Enzian-Granatsteig - starting point Lammersdorfer Hütte), around 4 hours (Sentiero dell' Amore. with descent to the Lammersdorfer Hütte) and 7:30 hours (stage 13 of the Alpe Adria Trail) for the tour

Granat Millstätter See © Steve Haider_MBN Tourismus

The garnet stonemy treasure from the Nockberge mountains

Granatium Radenthein © Gert Perauer_Granatium Radenthein

GRANATIUM Radentheinmy garnet experience

Did you know? Things to know for my hike to the Garnet Gate

Depending on the route and your fitness level, you should calculate between 3:15 (Enzian Granatsteig - starting point Lammersdorfer Hütte), around 4 hours (Sentiero dell' Amore. with descent to the Lammersdorfer Hütte) and 7:30 hours (stage 13 of the Alpe-Adria-Trail) for the tour.

The exact location has the geo-coordinates: 46.826111 N 13.636394. It was erected at 2060 metres above sea level. The site is located on the Millstätter Alpe (Lammersdorfer Berg).

The pillars of the Garnet Gate are adorned with the following inscription:

"Garnets, ruby-red gemstones accompany hikers on their paths, often only concealed by mica schist, a silvery, shiny rock. Even Noah is said to have used the gemstone to steer his ark safely. Egyptians, Greeks and Romans adorned themselves with the deep red shining gemstone. Known as carbuncle in the middle ages, it adorned the heads of european nobility as Bohemian garnet."

The Garnet Gate was built on the ridge of the Millstätter Alpe. The site on the Lammersdorfer mountain is 2060 metres above sea level. The view from the Garnet Gate extends as far as the Großglockner. The peaks of the Carnic Alps and the Karawanken can also be seen. The view into the valley is of Lake Millstätter See, but also of the villages of Millstatt am See, Seeboden am M. S., Döbriach am M. S., Baldramsdorf, Lendorf and the town of Spittal.

The tour from the Lammersdorfer Hütte can be completed in just over three hours. The Enzian-Granatsteig trail is around eight kilometres long. It covers around 400 metres in altitude. The Garnet Gate hike is categorised as a moderate hike.

The best time to hike to the Garnet Gate is from May to October. During this time, the huts on the Lammersdorfer Alm and Millstätter Alm are also open. The Garnet Gate is also a rewarding destination for ski tourers and snowshoe hikers, depending on the snow conditions between December and March.

Alpine farming is practised on the Millstätter Alpe. The area around the Garnet Gate is designated as a hiking area. There is no bike route to the Garnet Gate. We recommend travelling by bike

... via the Lammersdorfer Almstraße to the Lammersdorfer Hütte or

... via the Millstätter Almstraße to the Millstätter Hütte (NOCKBIKE Tour ...) and continue on foot to the Garnet Gate.

The Granattor measures 3.20 metres in height and 3.50 metres in width.

The Garnet Gate: My hike with a view On the way high above Lake Millstätter See in Carinthia

The Millstätter Alpe: My treasure mountain