Velden Casino is known far and wide for its vibrant atmosphere and outstanding gastronomy. It is a meeting point for society circles and lovers of a sophisticated lifestyle. The stunning views of Lake Wörthersee and the Mediterranean flair of the lakeside promenade, the cafés, restaurants and bars turn the night into day in Velden.
Before Roman times, this place was the centre of the southern Alpine area and excelled with an energetic social life. Visitors to the Frög Celtic World can experience the pre-Christian world of gods, the splendour and magnificence and the crafts. Frög answers the question of where we come from. Reconstructed finds prove that the world in the past worked similarly to the way it does today. The burial mounds that can be seen here are authentic sites of discovery and, together with the newly laid out paths, they constitute the main attraction of this complex. Burial mound 120, which is designed as a show grave, is one of the highlights. The points of mystification in this extensive complex have not been set arbitrarily, but have been identified by geomants. In the arena, the world is shown as a disk, the world view of the Greek Hekataios, who lived in 500 B.C. Display boards and models in combination with original finds revive the world in the immediate vicinity of the burial ground.
It was first mentioned in a document in 860. In the year 1209, the Spanheims bestowed the hereditary office of the cup-bearer upon the Osterwitz family. The last cup-bearer of Osterwitz was caught during an invasion by the Turks in 1475 and died in captivity without leaving an heir. Hochosterwitz went back into the hands of the sovereign, Emperor Friedrich III. Ferdinand I pawned Osterwitz to the governor, Christof Khevenhüller. In 1571, Baron Georg Khevenhüller, also governor, purchased the castle, extended it because of the imminent invasions by the Turks and provided it with an armoury and had 14 gates built between 1570 and 1586. Such a protected castle path is not only very rare, but also unique in the construction of castles. The names of the individual gates are recorded in an old document.
No substantial structural changes have been made since that time. To this day, the castle is uninterrupted in the possession of the Khevenhüller family. By order of the building owner, Georg Khevenhüller, from 1576, as can be seen on a marble plaque in the castle yard, the legacy was passed that the castle should remain in the possession of the descendants and that these should see to its preservation. The Khevenhüller family have always felt bound to this legacy.
Information: +43 (0)4213 2507
Experience the fascinating Lake Wörthersee at its most beautiful. Only from aboard a Wörthersee boat will you experience the unique beauty of the lake as well as that of the surrounding landscapes.
The cosy atmosphere on the boats, sun loungers for sun worshippers and the latest lounge furniture will make your boat trip on Lake Wörthersee a very special experience. The catering on board is prepared to grant almost any wish and continuously offers new products.
Spend a full day aboard one of our excursion boats. You can interrupt your trip as often as you like, whichever boat you travel on, so you can plan your own individual day trip on Lake Wörthersee.
Information: +43 (0)463 21155 or
Carinthia’s most beautiful vantage point
It’s like a dream come true when you stand on one of the 3 viewing platforms of the Pyramidenkogel and look at the wonderful landscape at your feet.
Due to its unique location, the 54 m high lookout tower provides stunning panoramic views of Carinthia’s wonderful mountains, lakes and valleys from an altitude of 905 m, ranging from the Karawanken Range as far as the Hohe Tauern Range. In between you can see the glistening blue of Lake Wörthersee and the 4-lakes valley of Keutschach.
With a modern lift you can reach the observation platform in 24 seconds. For little visitors, there is a playground and an animal enclosure at the foot of the tower.
Information: +43 (0)4273 2443 or 2291-14,
There have been reptiles in the world for 300 million years and you can see their rarest representatives in Austria’s largest and most beautiful reptile zoo, Happ.
Experience the fascinating world of crocodiles, tortoises and snakes. Lose your prejudices and get to know reptiles as an important part of the balance of nature.
The Happ family lets you partake in their many years of experience in dealing with snakes from all over the world. It is the aim of this zoo to provide information in order to help people overcome their fear of snakes and to reduce prejudice.
On 3,300 sq m, visitors are awaited by more than 1,000 animals from different regions of the world:
mambas, cobras, rattlesnakes, monitor lizards, iguanas, giant tortoises, native snakes in the large outdoor terrariums and a saurian garden which is well worth seeing. Every Sunday, the rattlesnakes are fed in the outdoor terrarium. Learn and enjoy yourself – real live nature! For more information about the breeding programme and the different snake species, see the website of Happ reptile zoo in Klagenfurt am Wörthersee.
Information: +43 (0)463 23425
“Nobody does it better” – this is our present demand concerning our models’ quality and attention to detail. What began on a small scale in 1958 has meanwhile improved to the point of perfection. Today we present about 150 models of the most beautiful buildings and structures from all five continents with great attention to detail.
However, the models only constitute part of the success of the MINIMUNDUS concept. On the 26,000 sq m large area, visitors can also enjoy the well-kept park and its special plants and flower arrangements, expertly cared for by six gardeners during the season. We attach increasing importance to presenting the models in a natural ambience so that visitors feel like they are in the natural surroundings of the buildings. This way, some parts of MINIMUNDUS have become a desert landscape or a tropical rainforest.
Information: +43 (0)463 21194,
Located at one of the most scenic places at Lake Wörthersee, the Forstsee exhibition power station not only provides an insight into power generation but is also a place of relaxation and a venue for cultural events every now and then.
The exhibition power station stands right on the shores of Lake Wörthersee between Pörtschach and Velden and is comfortably accessible by car, by bicycle on safe cycle paths and also by boat. Planned by the architect Franz Eduard Baumgartner in villa style, it is the oldest storage power station in Carinthia that was put into operation in 1925 after a construction period of two years. The storage power station is still used today and generates electricity at the push of a button.
Let experts explain to you how electricity is generated, enjoy the wonderful landscape at the lake and treat yourself to culinary pampering at Café Ampere.
Information: +43 (0)463 5251426,
