Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WESTERN CARINTHIA
The main attractions of western Carinthia are Millstatt with its serene and pretty lake for
swimming and boating, and its abbey and famous music festival; Spittal an der Drau, with
its stately Renaissance palace and pretty, floral park; and the remote and beautiful Weis-
sensee.
Both Millstatt and Spittal an der Drau are close to the primary road route north from
Villach, the A10/E55 that leads to Salzburg. It has a special vehicle toll section (€10 on
top of the normal autobahn toll) covering the two long tunnel sections north of Rennweg -
the Tauerntunnel and Katschbergtunnel. Traffic jams are common.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Gmünd
04732 / POP 2590
Gmünd is an attractive 11th-century village with a delightful walled centre and a 13th-cen-
tury hilltop castle,
Alte Burg
. From 1480, Hungarians conducted a seven-year siege of the
city, breaking through and partially destroying the castle. Today it's the setting for plays
and musical events.
Gmünd's most unusual attraction is the
Pankratium
(
www.pankratium.at
;
Hintere Gasse 60; 1hr tour
adult/child €8.50/4.90; 10am-5pm May-Oct)
, an extraordinary space bringing together water, light
and sound (ie vibration) in hands-on pieces designed for the senses. You can bring sound
gadgets and all manner of instruments to life on a tour that culminates in bubble-blowing
in the yard.
While in town, visit the excellent, privately owned
Porsche Museum Helmut Pfeifhofer
(
www.auto-museum.at
;
Riesertratte 4a; adult/child €7/3.50; 9am-6pm mid-May-mid-Oct, 10am-4pm mid-Oct-mid-
May)
, a Porsche factory that operated in Gmünd from 1944 to 1950. The first car to bear
that famous name (a 356) was handmade here. There's a 15-minute film (in German and
English) on Ferdinand Porsche's life and work.
Gmünd has a range of inexpensive accommodation options, including hotels offering
child-minding that are geared towards families with young children. Staff at the tourist of-
fice can outline options.
Gasthof Kohlmayr
(
2149;
www.gasthof-kohlmayr.at
; Hauptplatz 7; s/d/q €42/70/
