Main attractions

The Old city with its central Alter Platz (Old Square) is also worth seeing. Notable landmarks include

• Wörthersee, the warmest European Alpine lake
• the Lindwurm Brunnen (a lindworm fountain)
• Hochosterwitz Castle, an impressively fortified castle on a high hill that can only be reached by an ascending spiral path which is fortified with a series of gates.
• Papace of the Regional Parliament.
• The Cathedral.

Culture

It is a popular vacation spot with mountains to both the south and north, numerous parks and a series of 23 castles on its outskirts. In summertime the city is home to the Altstadtzauber (The Magic of the Old city) festival, the Ironman Contest and the Ingeborg Bachmann Preis, a prize for German literature.