Lexi Webster
Klagenfurt, the capital of the region of Carinthia, is a city in southern Austria with an incomparable heritage and natural beauty. It is known for its impressive palaces, monuments, and natural charm. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding countryside from the Pyramidenkogel Observation Tower, wander through the picturesque Klagenfurt Botanic Garden, and explore the city's pedestrian streets, squares, churches, markets, and palaces. For those interested in history, the Landhaus, a former ducal castle, and the Klagenfurt Cathedral, with its collection of artwork, are must-sees. The city also offers culinary delights, including traditional Carinthian dishes and local produce from the farmer's market.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Natural Beauty | Klagenfurt is surrounded by picturesque villages, beaches, and churches located on the shore of the sea. |
| Architecture | The city features pedestrian streets, squares, palaces, and markets. Notable buildings include the Landhaus, the Parish Church of St. Egid, and the Klagenfurt Cathedral. |
| Attractions | Klagenfurt offers a variety of attractions such as the Dragon Fountain, the Trinity Column, the Pilgrimage Church of Maria Saal, the Planetarium, the Reptile Zoo, and the Botanic Garden. |
| Food and Culture | Visitors can enjoy local cuisine, traditional Carinthian dishes, and farmer's markets. The city also has popular cafes and restaurants, including Cat'n'Coffee and Himmel. |
| Shopping | The City Arkaden Klagenfurt is a beautiful shopping center with 115 stores, offering fashion, gastronomy, and other services. |
| Views | The Pyramidenkogel Observation Tower provides panoramic views of the countryside, while the Kreuzbergl Mountain offers a contrast between the city and nature's rugged beauty. |
| Recreation | Lake Wörthersee is a popular destination for water sports, boating, and swimming. The area also has golf courses and horse-riding establishments. |
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What You'll Learn
- Visit the pilgrimage site of Maria Saal Cathedral, 10km north of Klagenfurt
- Explore the city's pedestrian streets, squares, churches, palaces, and markets
- Check out the local cuisine and farmer's market, sampling traditional Carinthian dishes
- Visit the world's tallest wooden lookout tower, the Pyramidenkogel Observation Tower
- See the city's most famous landmark, the Dragon Fountain, in the spacious Neuer Platz
Visit the pilgrimage site of Maria Saal Cathedral, 10km north of Klagenfurt
Klagenfurt, Austria, is a beautiful town with pedestrian streets, squares, churches, palaces, and markets. One of the top attractions in the area is the Pilgrimage Church of Maria Saal, also known as the Maria Saal Cathedral. This Catholic church is located in the town of Maria Saal, about 10km north of Klagenfurt, and is a renowned monument of Late Gothic architecture.
The history of the Maria Saal Cathedral dates back to the 8th century when Bishop Modestus consecrated a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The current twin-towered structure was built in the Gothic style between 1430 and 1459 and was later remodelled during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The church features a mix of architectural styles, including Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque elements.
The Maria Saal Cathedral is an important pilgrimage site and is considered one of Carinthia's most visited landmarks. It is known for its impressive architecture and its role as a spiritual centre. The interior of the church boasts fine old gravestones, the 16th-century Keutschach Epitaph depicting the Coronation of Our Lady, and a 3rd-century Roman stone relief of a post wagon. The Late Gothic Lantern of the Dead and the octagonal Romanesque charnel house are also notable features.
In addition to its religious significance, Maria Saal offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside. The town is surrounded by vineyards and is known for its wine. Guests can enjoy spectacular views over the Klagenfurt Basin to the Karawanken mountain range. The nearby Karnburg Vineyard features the Restaurant Leiten, which offers fine dining and a beautiful guest garden.
Besides the Maria Saal Cathedral, there are other attractions in and around Klagenfurt that are worth visiting. These include the Dragon Fountain, the Planetarium Klagenfurt, the Pyramidenkogel Observation Tower, and the Wörthersee lake.
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Explore the city's pedestrian streets, squares, churches, palaces, and markets
Klagenfurt, the capital of Carinthia, is a picturesque city in southern Austria, sitting on the banks of Lake Wörthersee. The city is known for its pedestrian streets, squares, churches, palaces, and markets, all of which are conveniently located close together.
Start your exploration of Klagenfurt's pedestrian streets by heading to the city centre, where you'll find a vibrant pedestrian area with a variety of shops, restaurants, and architectural gems. The City Arkaden Klagenfurt, Carinthia's most beautiful shopping centre, is located on the pedestrian street and offers 115 stores, including fashion, services, and gastronomic delights. From here, you can easily stroll to the nearby squares, churches, and palaces.
As you wander through the city, you'll discover charming squares such as the central square, Neuer Platz (New Square). Here, you'll find the iconic Lindwurm fountain, a dragon fountain that serves as the city's most famous landmark. The square also hosts the Maria Theresa Monument honouring the Habsburg monarch. Another notable square is the Benediktinerplatz, which transforms into a lively food market on Thursdays and Saturdays.
For those interested in religious architecture, Klagenfurt boasts several impressive churches. The Stadtpfarrkirche St. Egid, a baroque church with beautiful frescoes and a climbable tower, is definitely worth a visit. While the exterior may not be as grand as some European churches, the interior will take your breath away, especially the outstanding ceilings. Another notable church is the Domkirche St. Peter Und Paul, which features a beautifully ornamented pulpit and a side chapel painted by Ernst Fuchs.
Klagenfurt is also home to magnificent palaces, especially during the Advent season. Schönbrunn Palace, aglow with Christmas lights, offers a spectacular view from the steep path to the Gloriette, where you can see as far as Lake Neusiedl. During Advent, the palace's Advent market comes alive with hundreds of lights, creating a cosy and festive atmosphere.
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Check out the local cuisine and farmer's market, sampling traditional Carinthian dishes
Klagenfurt, the capital of Carinthia, is a beautiful town to visit. It boasts pedestrian streets, squares, churches, palaces, and markets, all within walking distance of each other. The Benediktinermarkt market, held on Thursdays and Saturdays from 6:00 am to 1:00 pm, offers a rich selection of local, natural, and regional products from farmers in Carinthia and neighbouring regions of Italy and Slovenia. Here, you can sample and purchase regional specialities, interact with local producers, and immerse yourself in the vibrant market atmosphere.
For a taste of traditional Carinthian cuisine, seek out "Kärntner Nudeln" (Carinthian pasta pockets). These delicate parcels are crafted from thin pasta dough, filled with a savoury blend of curd cheese, potatoes, mint, and chervil, and carefully "krendeln" (crimped) to seal in the flavours. Traditionally, these pasta pockets are served with melted butter or crispy crackling, creating a satisfying contrast of textures and flavours.
Carinthia is also renowned for its freshwater fish, particularly "Kärntner Lax’n", a lake trout native to the region since the 14th century. Delicately prepared and complemented by regional produce, these fish dishes are a staple of Carinthian Alpe-Adria cuisine. Char, trout, Danube salmon, whitefish, carp, and crayfish are best enjoyed fresh from the lake at one of the lakeside restaurants or terraces.
If you're visiting during Easter, you're in for a treat. Carinthia celebrates the season with unique culinary traditions, such as the Osterjause feast. On Holy Saturday or Easter Sunday, join the locals in indulging in smoked ham, horseradish, coloured hard-boiled eggs, Selchwurst sausages, beef tongue, and sweet Reindling—a delightful yeast dough confection filled with cinnamon, sugar, and raisins.
To complete your culinary journey, pair your meals with local beverages. Carinthia is home to renowned breweries like Villacher, Schleppe, and Hirter, as well as smaller specialty brewers like Loncium, Wimitzbräu, and Breznik. For wine enthusiasts, the region's viticulture, which flourished in the Middle Ages and is now experiencing a revival, offers excellent wines from wineries like Weingut Burg Taggenbrunn, Domäne Lilienburg, and Weingut Karnburg.
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Visit the world's tallest wooden lookout tower, the Pyramidenkogel Observation Tower
If you're looking for breathtaking views of the stunning Austrian countryside, look no further than the Pyramidenkogel Observation Tower, located in Keutschach, just a short drive from Klagenfurt. At 100 metres tall, it is officially the tallest wooden lookout tower in the world. Perched at an altitude of 851 metres above sea level, the tower offers uninterrupted 360-degree views of the surrounding landscape.
The tower's design is a marvel in itself. Designed by local architects Markus Klaura and Dietmar Kaden, the structure consists of 16 elliptically arranged larch glulam supports and 80 diagonal steel braces. The highest of the three viewing platforms sits at a height of nearly 71 metres, offering a truly unique perspective of the area. For those seeking an extra thrill, the tower also features a 66-metre-long slide, the longest in Europe, providing a fun and unique way to descend back to ground level.
The tower is easily accessible by car or bus, and even offers wheelchair access with disabled parking available. Visitors can choose to take the transparent panoramic lift to the top or opt to climb the stairs to the highest viewing platform. The tower also features a restaurant serving regional specialties, a shop, and a generous playground for children.
For a truly special experience, the 9th-floor Sky Box can be rented out. This enclosed area is protected from the elements and offers uninterrupted views of the surrounding landscape. Whether you're looking for breathtaking views, a unique architectural experience, or a fun day out for the family, a visit to the Pyramidenkogel Observation Tower is definitely worth considering during your time in Klagenfurt.
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See the city's most famous landmark, the Dragon Fountain, in the spacious Neuer Platz
Klagenfurt, Austria, is a beautiful town to visit, with its pedestrian streets, squares, churches, palaces, and markets. One of its most famous landmarks is the Dragon Fountain, located in the spacious Neuer Platz, the central square of the city. Carved from a single block of chloritic schist, a greenstone that gives the sculpture a unique colouring, the Dragon Fountain is the emblem of the city.
The sculpture was created in 1590 by Ulrich Vogelsang, although it is likely that an anonymous artist actually made the sculpture. It is modelled on the Lindwurm (dragon) of legend, which was said to have lived in a swamp, devouring cattle and virgins. The dragon's skull, found in a nearby quarry called Dragon's Grave, was thought to belong to a dragon, but in the 1800s, zoologists realised it was the skull of a woolly rhinoceros. The sculpture depicts a man, Hercules, battling the dragon, and it is one of Central Europe's oddest urban sculptures. The figure of Hercules and the iron railings were added in 1636, and the fountain itself was added in 1624.
Neuer Platz is also home to the Trinity Column, added in 1689, and a statue of Maria Theresa Habsburg, the former Habsburg Empire queen. The square is close to the pedestrian zone of Klagenfurt, where you can find shops, cafes, and the Christmas market.
If you're looking for more things to do in Klagenfurt, you could visit the nearby HAPP Reptile Zoo, the Planetarium Klagenfurt, or the Klagenfurt Botanic Garden. For stunning views, head to the Pyramidenkogel Observation Tower, located just a short drive from Klagenfurt. Or, spend a day exploring the Wörthersee, a 20-kilometer-long lake connecting Klagenfurt to Velden, surrounded by steep, heavily wooded alpine foothills and offering stunning views of the distant snow-capped Alps.
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Frequently asked questions
Some of the best attractions to visit in Klagenfurt include the Pilgrimage Church of Maria Saal, the Minimundus miniature park, the Planetarium Klagenfurt, the Landhaus, the Carinthian Museum of Modern Art, and the Pyramidenkogel Observation Tower.
Himmel, Zum heiligen Josef, and Cat'n'Coffee are all popular eateries in Klagenfurt. Himmel offers Mediterranean-influenced dishes at a price of around 20€-25€ per person. Zum heiligen Josef serves Austrian cuisine with a terrace and prices ranging from 20€-30€. Cat'n'Coffee is a cafe with cats walking around the place, and it serves coffee.
The official currency of Klagenfurt is the Euro. If you are a European citizen, you do not need a visa to enter the country, and there is no roaming for European citizens. The best time to visit Klagenfurt is from May to September when the temperatures are milder.
There are many free attractions in Klagenfurt, such as visiting the University of Klagenfurt, the Dragon Fountain, New Square, the Parish Church of St. Egid, and the Kreuzbergl Mountain.
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