Apartments, Houses and Chalets for Sale in the Town and District of Klagenfurt, Carinthia

Klagenfurt - Wörthersee Panorana

Klagenfurt - The Town

Klagenfurt, the capital city of Carinthia, has been defined as “the city of leisure and culture” of southern Austria. Ideally located on Lake Wörthersee, one of Europe’s largest and warmest Alpine lakes. Situated on the southern (sunny) side of the Alps, it has a Mediterranean climate – early, mild springs - long, satisfying summers – multicolored, vibrant autumns and sunny (although cold) winters.

Klagenfurt in winter

In the center of the newer part (newer part – read 15th century) of Klagenfurt is the Neuer Platz, home to the city's most famous landmark, the massive Dragon Fountain (Lindwurmbrunnen). The legend was born after 1335 when the dragon’s skull was found in a nearby quarry.

Legend has it the city was built on a swamp inhabited by the dragon who was said to devour cattle and virgins. – Yes, a hero was found to vanquish the dragon. Since then, the Lindwurm (Dragon) became heraldic emblem of Klagenfurt.

Klagenfurt-Lindwurmbrunnen
With thanks to: de:Benutzer:Griensteidl, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons - for permission to copy and post.

Unfortunately, science has a habit of interfering with legend. In the 1800s zoologists realized that the Lindwurm head actually belonged to an Ice Age woolly rhinoceros. The woolly rhino’s skull is still on display at the State Museum of Carinthia (Landesmuseum für Kärnten) in Klagenfurt.

Amongst the notable attractions in Klagenfurt

Klagenfurt-Minimundus-Model-of-St.-Peter's-basilica
With thanks to: User Binter on de.wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons - for permission to copy and post.

Minimundus, a miniature park in the center of Klagenfurt It displays over 150 miniature models of architecture from around the world, built at a ratio of 1:25. Well worth a visit for young and old.

right next to the Minimundus is the

Reptilienzoo Notable features include a large aquarium with local species of fish; a large collection of insects, including tarantula spiders; a garden with replica dinosaurs; and a fun play area for the kids. There's also a petting zoo component, the stars of which are the baby crocodiles that can be handled during feeding times
Klagenfurt Cathedral (Dom zu Klagenfurt)
Gurk Diocesan Museum
The Regional Museum of Carinthia (Landesmuseum Kärnten) - Yes the one with the "dragon head"
The Composing hut of Gustav Mahler - Gustav Mahler-Komponierhäuschen, is a little museum and memorial in Maiernigg, near Maria Wörth in Carinthia, Austria. It is dedicated to the classical composer Gustav Mahler (1860–1911). In this hut he retreated from 1900 to 1907 in order to compose music. Since 7 July 1986 a permanent exhibition can be seen here.

….. and there was Beer!

Klagenfurt (town) boasts its own first class brewery.

Schleppe Brauerei: The Felsenkeller

Schleppe Brauerei / Felsenkeller

With over 400 years of history, the Schleppe brewery has a long brewing tradition. Since 1607 Schleppe beer has been brewed outside the city gates of Klagenfurt. The "Schleppe" estate is mentioned for the first time as a brewery in a tithing register of the Tultschnig parish from 1607. The beer that was brewed there at the time was - according to Carinthian custom - a stein beer. Even back then, the Steinbier was the number one popular drink and on everyone's lips.

Today the brewery is well within the city limits.

The brewery restaurant of the Schleppe Brewery, better known as Felsenkeller, offers beer culture at the highest level. Right next to the Schleppe brewery, the Schleppe Felsenkeller is one of the most traditional restaurants in Klagenfurt. The Schleppe Felsenkeller, claims to have a clear commitment to fresh and predominantly regional products.

Brewery tours daily during the summer months - Monday to Friday at 10.30 a.m.! There are no tours on public holidays - tours for groups of 20 or more people are possible – by appointment - all.

For further information on the Schleppe brewery, other Schleppe products and the Felsenkeller click this link.
Not to be outdone by Klagenfurt (town), Klagenfurt (district) sports another first class brewery, the Hirt brewery (Brauerei Hirt) in Micheldorf, just 10 km north of Klagenfurt. For details see below in the Klagenfurt District section or click here.

Klagenfurt District

Wörthersee - The Lake and its Surroundings

Wörthersee - Landing Stage

Wörthersee is Carinthia's largest lake. It is a long, stretched out lake, about 16.5 km (10.3 mi) long and 1.5 km (0.93 mi) wide.

Angling in the Wörthersee

It extends from the outskirts of the Carinthian capital Klagenfurt in the east to the bay of Velden in the west.

To the north of the lake are the Ossiach Tauern (part of the Gurktal Alps) and to the south is the Karawanks range.

The Wörthersee is also a popular angling destination.

The most common species are pike (Esox lucius), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Perch (Perca), and the common whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus).

Wörthersee - Other Locations

Velden am Wörthersee

Schloss Velden - Castle and Tourist Resort
With thanks to: Johann Jaritz, CC BY-SA 3.0 AT, via Wikimedia Commons - for permission to copy and post.

At the western end of the Wörthersee is the picturesque town of Velden. Technically, not part of the Klagenfurt district, but we chose to include it here because it is part of the Klagenfurt basin and on is located the shores of the lake.

Velden hosts numerous events and has a wide range of high quality restaurants and hotels. The town also enjoys the reputation as being Carinthia's society and party meeting point. Casino Velden also does its part with a comprehensive and varied calendar of events.

For further information about Velden am Wörthersee follow this link.

The "Church-Peninsula" Maria-Wörth

Maria-Wörth Peninsula
With thanks to: Johann Jaritz, CC BY-SA 3.0 AT, via Wikimedia Commons - for permission to copy and post.

A small and very touristy village. Not to much to see or do. A lot of restaurants, church and apartments. Close to water.

Maria Wörth it situated right on the edge of the lake. The cemetery alone is worth a visit with it's wrought iron crosses, the beautiful decorated graves. The cemetery is quire unique. The church and it's little sibling (a small chapel) is stunningly beautiful and one can easily spent time in prayer here - many thousands do it yearly.

Maria Wörth: Gustav Mahler composing hut

Maria Wörth: Gustav Mahler's composing hut
With thanks to: Johann Jaritz, CC BY-SA 3.0 AT, via Wikimedia Commons - for permission to copy and post.

"Komponierhäuschen" (Composing Hut)

Between 1900 and 1907 the composer Gustav Mahler used a small hut to compose his symphonies. He called it his "Komponierhäuschen" (Composing Hut).

It is in this "composing hut" in which most of his works written were composed, including Symphonies from No. 5 to No. 8.

Today the hut is open to the public and serves as a small museum.

In 1901 he also built a villa near the hamlet of Maiernigg, right on the lakeside to the the east of the municipality.

For further information about Maria-Wörth follow this link.

Krumpendorf

Krumpendorf am Wörthersee

A small village (11.86 km2 - 4.58 sq mi) stretching along the northern shore of the Wörthersee.

Krumpendorf, small but with many advantages:

Being on the northern shore gives Krumpendorf far more sunshine than other municipalities in the area.
The village is skirted by the Süd Autobahn (A2) – connecting Vienna to Villach to Venice in Italy.
On its eastern border is the state capital of Klagenfurt – with its administrative and commercial services.

Krumpendorf Pier

Krumpendorf is a popular destination for daytrippers and a well known tourist resort.

For further information about Krumpendorf follow this link.

Pörtschach am Wörther See

Pörtschach am Wörthersee

The municipality of Pörtschach is located to the west of Krumpendorf and exhibits most of the positive features of Krumpendorf – with one big addition!

Pörtschach: Blumeninsel

The famous “Blumeninsel” (Flower Island)

The Blumeninsel is a peninsula protruding far into the lake is from Pörtschach, adding kilometers of flower promenade along the lake.

For admirers of the famous Wörthersee architecture, Pörtschach is the home of buildings such as the "Werzer Badeanstalt" as well as stylish lakeside houses "Villa Sole", "Villa Almrausch", "Villa Flora", "Villa Venezia","Villa Seewarte", the "Und-Häuschen", "Parkvilla Wörth" – to name just a few.

Leisure: Lido with giant water slide, diving tower and kidsriver, sailing, surfing, water skiing, tennis courts and indoor tennis courts and squash boxes, archery range, golf course, Wörthersee circular hiking trail, cycle path along the lake, runner fun Nordic walking and running park. Numerous events and concerts round off the leisure offer. Venues in Pörtschach can also booked for meetings and congresses.

Pörtschach:View of Wörthersee and Blumeninsel
With thanks to: Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 4.0, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

For further information about Pörtschach follow this link.
For a comprehensive list and pictures of Wörthersee Architecture follow this link.
For a list and pictures of famous villas in Pörtschach am Wörther See follow this link.

Other Information

….. and there was Beer! (continued….. )

The Hirter Brewery Team

Hirter Bier

Hirter Weizen

The Hirt brewery has been supplying Carinthian connoisseurs with traditional beer specialties as early as the late Middle Ages (1270). The Hirt brewery in Micheldorf has been brewing local beers for 750 years.

In addition to a wide variety of fine and famous beers; from Ales via their dark Morchl to Pils to Weizen and finally to their Zwickl, Hirter also have a distillery to distill brandies like their celebrated Hirter Zigarrenbrand and Hirter Braumeisterbrand.

Their beer based condiments – Bierführersenf (Beer mustard) and light and dark Bieressig (Beer Vinegars) are legendary.

The brewery also has an outlet in Klagenfurt town – the Hirter Botschaft, Bahnhofstrasse 44 (close to the train station), in addition to the locally brewed Hirter bier, they serve traditional Austrian and Carinthian cuisine.

Hiking, Biking & other Sports near Klagenfurt

Hiking, Biking & Fishing near Klagenfurt

Klagenfurt and Klagenfurt Land is an excellent spot to explore some of Carinthia's most scenic spots. The lakes Wörthersee, Keutschacher See and the Ferlacher Stausee (an 11 kilometer long and 500 meter wide reservoir – a great fishing destination) are great for all sorts of water-related sports and activities.

Angling on the Drau

Drau fishing area - Ferlach Reservoir

The entire Ferlach reservoir is managed by the Hollenburg forest administration. A large number of different fish species live in the approximately 11 km long arificial lake.

The uppermost area of this area can actually still be referred to as the flow section, gradually the reservoir slows into a more calmly flowing area. In the lower area of the dam, the river flow is regulated by high dams. The reservoir is over 500 meters wide here and the current is extremely low.

Pikeperch

The shallow water zones with their reeds offer the fish ideal spawning grounds. The Wellersdorfer Bucht (Wellersdorfer Bay - on the north shore, below Wellersdorf and opposite the landing stage of St. Johann) is a sanctuary and can therefore only be fished from June 16.

White fish predominate; grayling, carp and tench are angled a lot in the lower reaches. Salmonids (brown trout, rainbow trout and brook trout) are caught in the upper area. The predators are predominantly pikeperch, pike and catfish. There is hardly a local fish species that does not exist here, surprises are always possible.

The burbot, the only freshwater cod, which is very rare or has disappeared in most waters, is still found here in large numbers. Before the spawning season in late autumn, swarms of burbots gather in the more strongly flowing sections below the power station. Special burbot day tickets are issued, which are valid from 5 p.m. to midnight.

For Hikes and Bikes

Gerlitzen Alpe

Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt Land, the Wörthersee and the surrounding Alpine massifs are make hiking and biking (both mountain and more leisurely paved). So much to see – so much to enjoy.