Völkermarkt offers two distinctive themes for a stay: the city’s history and discoveries centred on culture and the Drau. The attractions differ in content and timing—so for events in particular, it is worth checking the specific dates.
City history in buildings and along routes
The Old Town Hall stands at Unterer Hauptplatz 22. Its present form was completed in 1499; the Late Gothic building has an arcade on the ground floor. The parish church of St. Mary Magdalene was built between 1240 and 1247 in the fortified town as a collegiate church in its own right. The round tower also points to the town’s past: it is the surviving tower of Völkermarkt’s former town castle.
Another historical trace leads to today’s Münzgasse. Under Duke Bernhard (1202–1256), a mint was established there, where silver coins were struck in the “Friesach style”. The Völkermarkt District Heritage Museum provides insights into the region’s history, particularly the events of the Carinthian defensive struggle and the 1920 Carinthian plebiscite. If you would rather connect your exploration of the city’s history with a route, the town wall trail offers a different perspective: it shows how Völkermarkt’s elevated position above the Drau was used strategically.
Cycling trails and landscapes along the Drau
The Völkermarkt Cultural Cycling Trail is a cultural and historical bike tour around Völkermarkt. It starts at the main square and then returns to Völkermarkt. The route is just under 40 kilometres long and passes, among other things, eleven churches, seven castle ruins and castles, a burial ground dating from the Celtic and Hallstatt periods, and Neolithic settlements. Völkermarkt is also a good starting point for the Drau Cycle Path. This gives you the choice of a circular route with named cultural and historical sights along the way, or another cycling trail with Völkermarkt as its starting point.
The Völkermarkt reservoir is the artificially dammed Drau. Its banks are mostly reinforced with embankments and are predominantly covered with willows and alders—a useful distinction when taking in the natural landscape. Fishing is possible in the reservoir’s fishing districts 11 and 13. District boundaries, access roads and fishing spots are marked along the left bank of the Drau; check the necessary permits and local rules before your visit.
Events and seasonal attractions
Bürgerlustpark hosts many cultural events and is a place for locals and tourists to relax. The Völkermarkt Cultural Brunch is also held there from June to September. Since 2021, it has been a regular fixture in the city’s events calendar. The summer programme at Heunburg runs from July to September; the theatre offers visitors a varied programme for all ages. The seasons for the Cultural Brunch and summer programme overlap, but you should still check the dates of each event before your visit.
Völkermarkt’s leisure pool has solar-heated pools, a current channel, a relaxation pool with massage jets, a water slide, a beach volleyball court and a children’s playground. It operates seasonally, and facilities may change; check the current details before your visit. The Völkermarkt markets, held every Wednesday and Friday, offer another regular point of reference in the weekly schedule. As market times can change, it is advisable to check locally.
To choose your accommodation, first list your most important sights and events: the historic town, cultural cycling trail and seasonal attractions each offer a different focus. If the Cultural Brunch or the Heunburg summer programme is important to you, check the individual event dates as well as the season. This will help you tailor your search for hotels in Völkermarkt to the experiences that really matter during your stay.
Discover more destinations
Klopein, Sankt Kanzian Am Klopeiner See, Bleiburg, Kühnsdorf, Sankt Primus, Sittersdorf, Kleindiex, Wasserhofen
For the main travel overview: Völkermarkt.
