Page 275 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Austria

C ARINTHIA AND EAST T Y ROL  273

and Gothic structures. A fief and secular buildings dating
from the mid­16th century, from the 1st century AD. In spring
it later became the property of and summer, the finds can be
the Khevenhüller family, who viewed in the open­air archaeo­
own it to this day. Both fortress logical park and in the museum.
and fortifications are open to There is a small church on
visitors; the access road runs top of Magdalensberg, with a
in a loop between the old three­headed stone statue in
walls, passing through 14 gates. the nave. This, as well as the
There is also a local museum. hilltop location of the church,
The turreted fortress of indicate the pagan, Celtic
Hochosterwitz is said to have origins of the area.
inspired Walt Disney’s animated
version of Snow White. 7 St Veit an Baroque stuccowork on the Rathaus façade,
der Glan St Veit an der Glan
8 Gurk
Road map E5. * 12,500. £ @
n Hauptplatz 23, (0664) 88736032. Road map E5. * 1,300. @ n Dr.
Schnerichstrasse 12, (04266) 812527.
From 1174 to 1518, St Veit an der ∑ gurk.at
Glan was the seat of the dukes of
Spanheim, who ruled Carinthia Gurk, the former ecclesiastical
during the Middle Ages; it later capital of Carinthia, is domi nated
lost its position to Klagenfurt. by a cathedral church, built in
Many historic buildings are 1140–1200 by Bishop Roman
preserved in the old town around and one of the most outstand­
Hauptplatz, including the ing achievements of Austrian
beautifully decorated Rathaus Romanesque archi tecture. The
(town hall) of 1468, altered in the Gothic vestibule is adorned by
Baroque style. It has a lovely stained­glass windows (1340)
16th­century arcaded courtyard. and Gothic frescoes. The original
The 12th­century Pfarrkirche main portal and door have
The slopes of Magdalensberg, site of St Veit (parish church of St Vitus) carved and painted Romanesque
fascinating archaeological finds con tains stone carvings from medallions. Inside, it is a startling
various periods; the altars are combi na tion of Romanesque and
6 Magdalensberg made in the Baroque style. Gothic, with net vaulting and a
The most recent symbol of Baroque main altar. The striking
Road map E5. * 3,300. n Deins­
dorf 10, Pischeldorf, (04224) 2213. St Veit is the unusual Kunsthotel crypt is supported by 100
∑ magdalensberg.at Fuchspalast, a modern hotel built columns. The cathedral houses
in 1998 to designs by the artist the Diözesanmuseum, which
On top of Magdalene mountain, Ernst Fuchs. It is themed around exhibits a large collection of
rising 1,056 m (3,465 ft) from the the signs of the zodiac. Also church furnishings as well as
Glan valley, are the remains of a worth a visit is Museum St Veit, many early sacred art objects.
town believed to be ancient which covers the history of the
Noricum, from the late­Celtic and local railways. E Diözesanmuseum
early­Roman periods. Numerous Domplatz 11. Tel (04266) 8236.
fragments of statues and the Open May–Oct: 10am–6pm daily.
remains of old altars testify to 8 at 3pm daily Jul & Aug.
the overlapping nature of
Celtic and Roman
cultures, with some
later Christian add­
itions. Below the
summit are the
scant remains
of a Roman
temple

The medieval fortress of Hochosterwitz, one of the symbols of Carinthia

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