Klagenfurt, capital of Carinthia, lies on the edge of the wide Klagenfurt basin, which is bounded on the south by the wooded ridge of the Sassnitz range, with the Karawanken rearing up behind. Although Klagenfurt is an important traffic junction and a busy industrial and commercial town, it has an attractive old quarter with picturesque little lanes and historic old buildings. It is also now a university town. Founded about 1161 as a market village, Klagenfurt was granted its municipal charter in 1252. The old town was destroyed by fire in 1514, whereupon the provincial Estates of Carinthia petitioned the Emperor Maximilian I to grant them possession of the now impoverished little town.
It was duly transferred to them in 1518, and Klagenfurt then displaced St Veit an der Glan as capital of the province and began to expand. Between 1527 and 1558 a canal was constructed to supply water for the moat surrounding the town, and this still links Klagenfurt with the Wörther See. The line of the old fortifications is marked by a circuit of streets, the Ring, around the old part of the town, which today has many parks and gardens. Klagenfurt is the birthplace of Robert Musil (1880-1942), who became world-famous for his novel "The Man without Qualities", and of Ingeborg Bachmann (1926-73), well known for her lyric writings. A literary competition is held every year in Klagenfurt.
West of Klagenfurt, on the Wörther See, in the outlying district of Klagenfurt-See, are the municipal swimming pool and boat landing stages. The Europapark is worth a visit for its mini golf course, modern sculptures and Minimundus, a miniature town with models of well-known Austrian and international buildings reduced to 1/25th of their size, as well as railroad and port installations on the same scale. Also of interest are the planetarium and the reptile zoo.
Address: Minimundus, Villacher Strasse 241, A-9010 Klagenfurt, Austria
South of the Klagenfurt Cathedral lies Arnulfplatz, on the eastern side of which stands the handsome building occupied by the Provincial Government (Landesregierung).
The Bishop's Palace (Bischöfliche Residenz), northeast of the Klagenfurt town center, was originally built at the end of the 18th C. as a palace for the sister of Emperor Joseph II.
To the east of Meuer Platz, at Burggasse 8 (once the residence of the governor of the castle), will be found the Provincial Art Gallery of Carinthia (Landesgalerie), with a collection of modern pictures and sculptures.
Address: Carinthian Provincial Art Gallery, Burggasse 8, A-9020 Klagenfurt, Austria
This was originally a Gothic structure but was redecorated in the Baroque style. Note the six coats of arms carved in wood and a font dating from 1623.
In the south of the town of Klagenfurt lie the Stadthalle (civic hall), the ice rink and the fair and exhibition grounds; many trade fairs are held annually in Klagenfurt, including the Klagenfurter Messe (Klagenfurt Fair: August), the Fachmesse für Gastronomie und Fremdenverkehr (Gastronomy and Tourism Fair: March) and the Fachmesse für Freizeitgestaltung (Leisure Fair: April).
The City Hall is a Renaissance palace of the Counts of Rosenberg. Built in 1650, the interior also includes a beautiful staircase.
Southeast of Klagenfurt, on the River Glan, lies Ebenthal (427m/1,401ft), with an 18th C. parish church (frescos, Roccoco pulpit) and a castle within a park. The ceiling of the Great Hall of the castle is decorated with paintings by J. F. Fromiller, and in the Family Room hang oil-paintings by Peter Kobler (18th C.). Near Ebenthal rises the Predigerstuhl (713m/2,339ft; one and a quarter hours' climb).
Address: Ebenthal Tourist Office, A-2251 Ebenthal, Austria
The town of Ferlach is located south of Klagenfurt. Its Rifle Making Museum will be of interest to armament enthusiasts. Ferlach is known for its rifle making history.
Address: Ferlach Büchsenmachermuseum, Schloss Ferlach Sponheimer Platz 1
, A-9170 Ferlach, Austria
Hours:
May 15 to October 15: 10am-6pm
October 16 to May 14: 2pm-6pm; Closed: Sun, Mon, Sat
This is thought to be Klagenfurt's oldest house still in existence. The house dates back at least to 1489. It was intended to serve the Emperor as a pied-à-terre in exchange for the castle he ceded to the Diet for the construction of the Landhaus. The courtyard includes a relief with Centaur and a female figure, which dates back to the 16th century, as well as fine arcades.
The palace was built between 1734 and 1738. It has an impressive façade, with pilasters, the Göess coat of arms, a grilled staircase and a stone balustrade.
South of Klagenfurt's Arnulfplatz, on the far side of the Viktringer Ring, the Koschat Museum exhibits relics and mementos of the Klagenfurt composer Thomas Koschat (1845-1914), author of many songs (Lieder).
The Klagenfurt Kreuzbergl (515m/1,690ft). northwest of the town, is a recreation area with numerous footpaths. At the foot of the hill can be found the interesting Botanic Garden, which specializes in the plants, rocks and minerals of Carinthia. The lookout tower on the hill houses a "People's Observatory".
On the eastern side of the Klagenfurt Neuer Platz can be seen a bronze statue (1873) of the Empress Maria Theresa, who reigned 1740-80. On the southern side of the base can be read the inscription "In Memory of the Great Empress".
Trams run along Ursulinenstrasse to the extensive wooded area on the northwestern edge of Klagenfurt. Here will be found the Municipal Theater (Stadttheater: opera, operetta and plays), the Stadthaus with its Classical triangular gable-end and the Künstlerhaus (Art Exhibitions).
The city theater is an Art Nouveau, built between 1908 and 1910 at the site of the 17th century ball room.
Address: Stadttheater Klagenfurt, Theaterplatz 4, A-9020 Klagenfurt, Austria
Northeast of Spittal is the Nock district, which provides excellent walking, climbing and winter sports. This region running along the Nockalm Road has been declared a national park. The rivers, the gently rounded peaks of the Nockberge, its geological features, the spruce, larch and fir trees and the idyllic Alpine pastures produce a beautiful picture.
The National park office is located in Klagenfurt although the park is some distance northwest of the capital city.
Address: Nationalparkverwaltung Nockberge, A-9565 Ebene Reichenau, Austria
The core of the oldest part of the town of Klagenfurt is the long street known as Alte Platz (now a pedestrian zone), surrounded by many handsome Baroque buildings. Among these number the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), with a picturesque three-storied arcaded courtyard, the Haus zur Goldenen Gans (Golden Goose: c. 1500; arcades) and the Stiegenhaus.
The Altes Rathaus was formerly the Welzer Palace and is now the Rosenberg Palace. The Rosenberg coat of arms is located above the side entrance. There is also an arcaded courtyard and a Fromiller painting.
This is the town residence of the Abbots of the Ossiach Benedictine Monastery. The building is beautifully decorated and has an arcaded courtyard in the south wing.
To the north end of the Klagenfurt Alte Platz stands the parish church of St Egyd or Giles (Stadtpfarrkirche), a handsome but rather gloomy building of the 17th-18th C., with many gravestones and coats of arms on the external walls and a trompe l'Üil ceiling painting inside. There are extensive views from the 91m/300ft high tower with its onion dome.
Klagenfurt boast's Austria's first pedestrian zones on Kramergasse. The second zone is on the Alter Platz. Various architecturally-important houses can be found in these zones.
The church was commissioned by the Catholic nobility in 1613 and built by Adam Kolnig as part of the Franciscan Monastery. There have been frequent alterations since, but the original octagonal tower and stucco decor still remain. The church was handed over to the Benedictines in 1807.
Also note the Crucifixion by painter Fromiller and memorial plaques for the Barons of Herbertstein and the Countess Rosenberg.
The Stadthaus is built on the former Woelfnitz-Bastion ramparts. The site was the first exit point of the water supply system, which provided water to the city moat. The building also includes a classicist three-cornered gable.
On the western side of Klagenfurt's Neuer Platz stands the former Palais Rosenberg, built c. 1580 and remodeled several times in the 17th C. The three-storied and gabled building has been the Town Hall (Neues Rathaus) since 1918.
Southwest of Klagenfurt lies Viktring (454m/1,490ft), now part of Klagenfurt, and known for its Cistercian abbey (founded in 1142 and dissolved in 1786), one of the most important abbey buildings in Carinthia. It possesses two beautiful arcaded courtyards and an Early Gothic church with Burgundian pointed vaulting; in the choir can be seen Viktring's main attraction, superb stained glass of c. 1400, depicting the Twelve Apostles and other subjects.
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Carinthian Provincial Museum
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Ebenthal, Austria
Burg Hochosterwitz, St Veit an der Glan
Burg Hochosterwitz, St Veit an der Glan
Wörther See, Klagenfurt
