Ossiach is a lakeside village in Carinthia known for the Carinthischer Sommer classical music festival held each July in the former Benedictine monastery on the shore of the Ossiacher See. The abbey, founded around 1024 and rebuilt in Baroque style, provides one of the most atmospheric concert settings in Austria. The Ossiacher See is warmer and quieter than the Woerthersee, with good swimming, cycling, and a relaxed atmosphere. Bus connections from Villach take about 15 minutes; most visitors arrive by car. For the festival, book tickets well in advance. Outside the festival season, Ossiach is a peaceful base for lake activities without the crowds that gather at Velden.
village
Ossiach
Every July, the former Benedictine monastery at Ossiach fills with orchestras and soloists for the Carinthischer Sommer, one of Austria's most distinctive classical music festivals.