Watschiger Alm

On the foot of the Gartnerkofel lies picturesque Watschiger Alm pasture, surrounded by the imposing peaks of the Carnic Alps. A trip up Watschiger Alm is particularly worthwhile from early June until mid-July, when the wulfenia flower is in bloom around the hut, transforming the mountain meadows into a colourful sea of blossoms. Every year, plant enthusiasts from all over world come here to admire and photograph this unique flower that grows only in the Nassfeld region. The wulfenia flower is protected and picking it is strictly forbidden. It owes its pretty name to its discoverer, Franz Freiherr von Wulfen, who was the first to discover this blue flower that had previously not been recorded or described by any botanist, more than 200 years ago. If you feel like getting some exercise after soaking up the sun on the terrace, embark on a hike up the Gartnerkofel or, if you are pressed for time, pay nearby Garnitzenalm pasture a visit. Both trails offer beautiful panoramic views and hearty refreshments at the end, such as Gailtaler Almkäse, "Schotten", butter and hard cheese. Watschiger Alm may also be comfortably reached by car via a tarmacked road.