At the Friesach castle construction site, a medieval hilltop castle is being built on an area of around 4,000 m², with different stages of development. The project draws on historical craft knowledge and uses no modern equipment. Visitors can watch craftspeople at work and experience medieval crafts without technical aids. This makes the building process itself part of the experience, rather than simply imagining a finished castle. As construction progress may change, it is worth checking the latest information before planning a specific visit.
Another historic fortification is Hochosterwitz Castle, an outstanding example of a medieval fortress and defensive structure. Visitors can reach the castle on the FĂĽrst-Max-Bahn; check that it is operating before your trip. The castle restaurant serves traditional Carinthian cuisine. As restaurant operations may change, check the latest information before your visit.
Sacred architecture and history in Gurk
Gurk Cathedral is an important monument of 12th-century sacred architecture and was founded by Saint Hemma. Hemma’s tomb is in the crypt with its hundred columns. The Gurk Treasury houses more than 300 objects of Carinthian sacred art. The architecture, its connection to the foundation, the crypt and the collection offer different perspectives on the town’s sacred history.
Museums with their own special focuses
The St. Veit Museum presents the history of the town of St. Veit an der Glan and regional transport. Its permanent exhibition areas include railways, model railways, a driving simulator for an electric railcar, motorisation, the gendarmerie, postal and telecommunications services, and the town’s history. Exhibition details may change over time; check the latest museum information before your visit.
The Heinrich Harrer Museum displays more than 5,000 exhibits across an area of 1,000 m². Opposite is the Lingkor, a Tibetan pilgrimage trail. The area and collection size give you a concrete sense of the museum’s scale; the Lingkor directly opposite offers a different point of reference. In Friesach, the 28-metre-high chapel tower of the Petersberg castle complex houses the Friesach Town Museum across six floors.
The Auer von Welsbach Museum has an originally equipped laboratory with a light and sound demonstration; availability may vary. The museum also displays early metal-filament incandescent lamps, a collection of rare lighters and early gas mantle lighting fixtures. While the St. Veit Museum focuses on town history and transport, the laboratory and lighting objects take centre stage here.
Moorland, historic routes and local traditions
The Hörfeld Moor nature reserve stretches between the municipalities of Hüttenberg and Mühlen and covers around 140 ha. The 6.7-kilometre Hörfeld Moor circular trail passes through the protected area in about 2.5 hours; a boardwalk makes the moor accessible on foot. The approximate duration can help you plan your day. Seasonal conditions may affect access.
In HĂĽttenberg, you can also walk along the route of the old ore railway. The railway once transported ore to the Heft for smelting. Whereas the moor trail focuses on the natural landscape, this route offers a glimpse into the history of transport. The HĂĽttenberg Reiftanz takes place every three years in HĂĽttenberg on the Sunday after Pentecost. The exact date varies from year to year; if you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the date for the relevant year.
The wider Mittelkärnten travel region also offers different perspectives on landscape and culture. Hiking trails for families and more experienced hikers connect Hochosterwitz Castle and Gurk Cathedral with the gentle peaks of the Saualpe, the vineyards at Längsee, and historic towns such as St. Veit an der Glan, Althofen and Friesach. Specially marked themed routes take cyclists through the area and to the region’s lakes. Hiking and cycling are additional options for planning your trip, alongside museums, historic buildings and local traditions.
Discover more destinations: Deutsch Griffen, Eggen, Flattnitz, Friesach, Glödnitz, Gurk, Liebenfels, Metnitz, Mölbling, Sankt Veit An Der Glan, Knappenberg, Hüttenberg, Sankt Georgen Am Längsee, Eberstein, Treffling, Guttaring, Althofen, Kaindorf, Launsdorf, Krobathen, Passering, Sadin, Straßburg, Klein Sankt Paul, Frauenstein, Lölling Graben, Micheldorf, Weitensfeld im Gurktal, Sand, Kraig, Seebauer, Sankt Veit an der Glan
For the full travel overview: Carinthia.
