Where water and wine make wonders.

We are standing beside Pirkdorfer See and we can see our next target ahead – Hemmaberg. A mythological and mysterious place. The Celts and all those who lived on the mountain a thousand years ago were aware of this.

What tranquility! It's hard to imagine, but once upon a time everything was different…

In the 5th and 6th centuries, Hemmaberg was the biggest Central European early Christian pilgrimage centre. Four churches stood on its narrowest part, however, now only the remains of the walls and ruins still exist. Nevertheless, to this day the place still hasn't lost its mysterious power.

Beneath the top of the Rosaliengrotte cave there is a spring, which is said to have similar healing benefits to that of the French Lourdes pilgrimage centre.

After experiencing the internal peace – spiritually and fortified by the fresh spring water – we head on our way towards Sittersdorf.

Unfortunately, due to various obstacles, this area never developed into a well-known wine-growing landscape. But, in fact… everyone really did have wine here. Really, each and every person, although the vines were only by their houses.

Today, initiatives are appearing to once again revive this tradition, and some of the inhabitants of Sittersdorf village have already started to produce wine.

After the healing Hemmaberg spring, do you start to go for 'the wine of seven'? It is said that six people hold the one who is drinking it – such is the acidity of the wine here. It is attributed with having a beneficial effect on stomach and digestion problems. It is said that in the 18th century, even Charles III of Spain ordered the red from Sittersdorf – on the recommendation of the Austrian Envoy and had it taken to Madrid so he could use it to completely cure his stomach. It was never reported, and thus isn't known, whether his envoy, Prince Rosenberg, had to hold onto him during treatment.

Anyway, let's march onwards to the particularly beautiful area of the Loka meadow.

One should come here repeatedly – after each rainfall, the river changes its course, thus, the image is constantly changing – as nature continuously creates. It is a real jewel, a completely natural river landscape. Let's enjoy the beautiful view, or perhaps some will opt to go fly fishing. We can seek out interesting stones and admire the incredible diversity of the variously coloured rocks, which the river brought from various valleys around Eisenkappel (Slovene: Železna Kapla). Aren't they just like real jewels?

Another jewel awaits us.

At the end of this stage and the start of the next – the Wildensteiner waterfall.

The very sight of it leaves one lost for words – well worth the effort to get here.