Spital An Der Drau: Austrian City Charm

Spittal an der Drau is a town in the western part of the Austrian federal state of Carinthia. It is the administrative centre of the Bezirk Spittal an der Drau, Austria's second-largest district. The town is located on the southern slopes of the Gurktal Alps, between the Lurnfeld Basin and the Lower Drau Valley. The municipal area consists of seven Katastralgemeinden: Amlach, Edling, Großegg, Molzbichl, Olsach, Spittal proper, and St. Peter-Edling. Spittal has a long and rich history, with the settlement first mentioned in an 1191 deed when a hospital was built by the counts of Ortenburg.

Spittal an der Drau's history

Spittal an der Drau is a town in the western part of the Austrian federal state of Carinthia. It is the administrative centre of the Spittal an der Drau district, which is Austria's second-largest district by area. The town is located on the southern slopes of the Gurktal Alps (Nock Mountains), between the Lurnfeld Basin and the Lower Drau Valley.

The settlement was first mentioned in a 1191 deed issued by Archbishop Adalbert of Salzburg. In this deed, it is noted that the local Carinthian counts, Hermann I and Otto II of Ortenburg, had a hospital (Spittl) with a chapel built where an ancient road leading to the Katschberg Pass and Salzburg crossed the Lieser River. The adjacent settlement received market rights in 1242. In 1418, Spittal was inherited by Count Hermann II of Celje, along with the Ortenburg estates. The counts of Celje were raised to immediate Reichsgrafen in 1436, but the family line became extinct when Count Ulrich II was killed in 1456. After this, the territory was seized by the Habsburg emperor Frederick III, who was also the Duke of Carinthia.

Emperor Frederick granted the citizens of Spittal the right to choose their own judge and council. However, Spittal and its surrounding lands were devastated by Turkish warriors in 1478 and then occupied by the Hungarian troops of King Matthias Corvinus, Frederick's long-time rival. The town was further ravaged by a peasant revolt and two fires in 1522 and 1729. In 1524, Archduke Ferdinand I of Austria entrusted his treasurer, Gabriel von Salamanca, with the former Ortenburg county. From 1533 onwards, the Counts of Salamanca-Ortenburg had Schloss Porcia erected on the main square as their residence. This building, in the style of an Italian palazzo, is considered one of the most important Renaissance castles in Austria. They also rebuilt the Spittl hospital on the other side of the Lieser River and the late Gothic Catholic parish church of Mary's Annunciation upon Romanesque foundations from the 13th century.

In 1662, Spittal passed to the Gorizia Counts of Porcia, who owned Schloss Porcia until 1918. Today, the palace hosts an annual festival for classic theatrical comedies (Komödienspiele Porcia) and is home to a museum of local history. In 1537, the Carinthian Khevenhüller noble family had a residence erected opposite the castle, which now serves as the town hall.

The town's attractions

Spital an der Drau is a town in the Austrian federal state of Carinthia. It is a tourist centre with many attractions.

For those who enjoy the outdoors, the town is located between the Lurnfeld Basin and the Lower Drau Valley, in the southern slopes of the Gurktal Alps (Nock Mountains). The town offers hiking and cycling opportunities, with 20 hidden gems to explore in the region. The nearby Lake Millstätter See in Seeboden is a popular attraction, offering a quiet escape in the low season and a chance to enjoy the water during the summer. The lake is narrow and offers a beautiful view. The town also has a park, the Stadtpark Center Spittal, which is a nice place for an afternoon stroll.

Spital an der Drau also has a rich history, dating back to 1191 when a hospital (Spittl) was founded by the counts of Ortenburg. The town received market rights in 1242 and municipal status in 1930. Many of its attractions date back to the 16th century, including old houses, the parish church, the town hall, and the Renaissance palace of the Porcia princes. Schloss Porcia, the former palace, now hosts an annual festival for classic theatrical comedies and is home to a museum of local history. The town also has a cable car that takes visitors up to the summit of Mt Goldeck, a peak of the Gailtal Alps south of the town.

Other attractions in the town include the Museum Fuer Volkskultur, the Stadtpfarrkirche "Maria Verkündigung", Schloss Rothenthurn, and the Edlinger Kirche.

Local hotels

Spittal an der Drau is a town in the western part of the Austrian federal state of Carinthia. It is the administrative centre of the Bezirk (district) of Spittal an der Drau, which is Austria's second-largest district.

Hotel Landhof Simeter

Located in a quiet area, a 15-minute walk from the town centre, Hotel Simeter offers an infrared cabin, a sauna, and a restaurant serving Austrian and international cuisine. It has received excellent reviews for its friendly staff, delicious breakfast, and breathtaking views of the mountains.

Hotel Ertl & Mexican Cantina Salud

Hotel Ertl is centrally located in the historic town of Spittal an der Drau, close to the train station and Porcia Palace. It has a Mexican restaurant called Mexican Cantina Salud.

Erlebnis Post - Stadthotel mit EigenART

This unique hotel is located on the historic main square and offers colourful, individually decorated rooms in a variety of styles, from business to eco-friendly. It has received very good reviews for its location.

Hacienda Mexicana

Located in Spittal an der Drau, 4.5 miles from the Roman Museum Teurnia, Hacienda Mexicana offers free bikes, free private parking, a garden, and a restaurant. It has received very good reviews, with one guest praising the nice bike garage and amazing breakfast buffet.

Kolpinghaus Spittal

Kolpinghaus Spittal is located in Spittal an der Drau, 4.6 miles from the Roman Museum Teurnia. It offers free private parking, a garden, and a terrace. It has received very good reviews, with one guest commenting on the clean rooms, pleasant staff, and good storage for bicycles.

Ferienwohnung neben dem Schloss Porcia

Ferienwohnung neben dem Schloss Porcia is located close to the centre of town, near a beautiful park, and within walking distance of shops and restaurants. It has received very good reviews, with one guest describing the apartment as comfortable and having everything needed for a short stay.

Gasthof Kasperle

Gasthof Kasperle is located in Spittal an der Drau, 5.4 miles from the Roman Museum Teurnia. It features a garden, free private parking, a terrace, and a restaurant. It has received very good reviews, with one guest commenting on the good location, friendly staff, and good food.

Spittal's rail connections

Spittal an der Drau is a picturesque town in the western part of the Austrian federal state of Carinthia. It is a tourist centre and rail junction with a railway station on the Tauernbahn railway line from Villach to Salzburg. The town's station is named "Spittal Millstättersee" for touristic purposes.

Spittal lies on the Tauernbahn, a railway which connects Salzburg and Villach, the main railway hub in Southern Austria. Every fast train stops in Spittal, with some going directly to Vienna or Vienna airport. There are some daily international connections to Zurich, Zagreb, and Beograd, and Eurocity connections to Dortmund, Frankfurt, and Munich. Domestic trains leave for Lienz and Villach.

The journey from Salzburg to Spittal by train is 72.36 miles and takes 2 hours and 9 minutes. There are 4 connections per day, with the first departure at 2:10 a.m. and the last at 9:12 p.m. The cheapest tickets for this route can be found for as low as $10.16.

The town's administrative status

Spittal an der Drau is a town in the western part of the Austrian federal state of Carinthia. It is the administrative centre of the Spittal an der Drau District, which is Austria's second-largest district by area. The district covers 2,763.99 square kilometres and is larger than the Austrian state of Vorarlberg. It is also the largest district in Carinthia.

The town is located on the southern slopes of the Gurktal Alps (Nock Mountains) and is named after a hospital (Spittl) founded there by the counts of Ortenburg in 1191. Spittal an der Drau is a tourist centre and rail junction, with a range of industries including wood products, machinery, shoes, and pharmaceuticals.

The municipal area consists of seven Katastralgemeinden: Amlach, Edling, Großegg, Molzbichl, Olsach, Spittal proper, and St. Peter-Edling. Spittal extends to the southern shore of Lake Millstatt and has a population of 15,270.

Spittal an der Drau is home to a large construction company and also serves as a market and service centre for the nearby countryside. The town has a railway station on the Tauernbahn railway line from Villach to Salzburg and is accessible via the A10 Tauern Autobahn and the Bundesstraßen highways B99 and B100.

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