Wolfsberg’s old town lies between Wolfsberg Castle and the Lavant, the river that gives the valley its name. This location alone connects two defining landmarks of the town. It is also home to surviving sections of the medieval town walls and buildings from different centuries. Visitors drawn to Wolfsberg by its history will find several specific points of interest here—from the town’s castle heritage to churches, towers and art.
Old Town and Architectural History
Historic townhouses, most of them dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, stand on Hohen Platz. The square is also home to the Mariensäule: this five-metre-high Baroque monument was consecrated in 1718 and is also known as the Plague Column. The names and dates provide a tangible historical context for the square, although the individual buildings cannot all be traced back to the same period.
Further sections of the medieval town walls have survived on Schlossberg and at Rossmarkt. Reckturm is the last surviving tower of these town walls. Sacred buildings include the parish church of St. Markus, first mentioned in a document in 1216 and featuring a 72-metre-high tower, as well as St. Anna’s Chapel, built in 1497. Also known as the Bakers’ Chapel, it houses a late Gothic winged altarpiece. Together, these examples illustrate different historical connections: an early documentary mention, surviving town fortifications and a work of art from the late Gothic period.
The history of Wolfsberg Castle also stretches back through several stages. Wolfsberg Castle, also known as Schloss Wolfsberg, was first mentioned in a document in 1178. From 1846, the former castle was transformed into a castle in the English Tudor style through extensive renovations under Hugo I. The first mention and the later transformation thus belong to widely separated periods in the building’s history.
Guided Tours, Museum and Art
Guided walks draw attention to the town’s most beautiful squares and to notable chapters in its past. Wolfsberg’s town tours last one to two hours and can be booked through the Museum im Lavanthaus. This time estimate is useful for planning: set aside a dedicated block of time for a tour rather than treating it as a brief stop along the way.
The Museum im Lavanthaus also offers guided tours and special educational programs for children and young people. If you are travelling with young visitors, you can plan these activities as a cultural outing in their own right. The Wolfsberg City Gallery is housed in the former Minorite monastery in the old town. It presents exhibitions featuring works by internationally renowned artists, while also placing great emphasis on showcasing artists and cultural practitioners from Carinthia. Its program thus highlights both international art and local cultural figures.
Local Produce and a Market Visit
The Wolfsberg farmers’ market is held at Weiher Platz every Friday until 12:30 p.m. It offers a wide range of Lavant Valley products from local producers. If you are planning to visit the market, check the market day and hours again before you go; as it closes early, the morning is the key time to visit.
The House of the Region showcases regional products as well as works by direct marketers, artists and craftspeople; it also helps them market their products. Groups can book individually assembled product-tasting packages in advance. The two offerings therefore differ in format: the farmers’ market takes place on a fixed day of the week, while tastings at the House of the Region must be requested in advance for groups.
When planning your visit around a particular theme, you can choose between architectural history, art and cultural activities, and local products—or combine these interests. The old town offers several historical examples, while the city gallery, museum, guided tours and market provide different ways to explore the town. You can tailor your plans to your interests without trying to fit every offering into a single itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Rieding, Reisberg, Hattendorf, Kalchberg, Weinebene, Bad Sankt Leonhard Im Lavanttal, Sankt Martin, Gemmersdorf.
View the main travel guide: Wolfsberg.
