753m. 2700 inhabitants. The small 655 year old, historical town of Gmünd lies in the heart of 2 national parks, the "Hohe Tauern" and the "Nockberge", at the junction of the Malta and Lieser valley in the sunny, mild south of Austria on thesouthern side of the Alps. The variety of the scenery has always been a great influence on the people of this area. Theyare hospitable, childloving, musical (many choirs and musical societies formed), spirited, merry and sociable. The romanticnarrow side streets, Graf Lodrons`s castle, the old fortress, squares with southern flair, old churches attract art andculture lovers. Artist`s colony, galleries, ateliers, antique shops, exhibitions, symposiums, theatre are also a testimony itit. Here you will find the famous Porsche museum where Ferdinand Porsche, the car designer lived and worked 1944-1950and where he created his first sports car. In the village and valley: First class restaurants, cafes, openair pool, tennis, magic mile, animal park, donkey stud farms, easy walking paths along the small rivers and highland trails through woods, meadows up to solitary farms, to Maltaberg and 2 original mountain chalets, the starting point to the high alpine pasturesand mountains of 2400m. In the Malta Valley the mountain road (gorges, waterfalls) leads to the artificial Kolbrein-Stausee (200m high walls, bungee jumping) and the national park "Hohe Tauern" with its many peaks of over 3000m andglaciers. In complete contrast is the national park "Nockberge" : Here the alpine road leads to the grass covered hilltopsof approx. 2200m and to broad, alpine pastures and where the wealth of animals and plants are to be found in Innerkrems. Not far from the Carinthian lake region: From 12km Lake Millstättersee, thermal baths, Bad Kleinkirchheim, Villach 45km. WINTER: Sunfunsnow. Cross country skiing tracks, hikes, ski tours, iceclimbing, iceskating, riding, toboganning, paragliding, apres ski. 3 skiing centres 10-15km: Innerkrems (11 lifts, children´s camp), Katschberg, Goldegg.