Page 279 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Austria

KLA GENFUR T  277

War II, during the 1944 bombing crafted in minute detail to a scale
raids, but has been restored to of 1:25, and have been added to
its former splendour. Rich since 1959, when a children’s
stucco decoration on the walls charity, Rettet das Kind, set up
and ceiling blend elements of the first architectural miniatures
various architectural styles into near Wörthersee. All the profits
one successful composition. go to the foundation. Among the
The vault frescoes were painted models from all continents are
by Josef Ferdinand Fromiller, Rome’s St Peter’s Basilica,
while the gallery stucco was Paris’s Eiffel Tower, London’s
the work of Kilian Pittner. Big Ben, Brussels’ Atomium,
Daniel Gran painted the Agra’s Taj Mahal and New
main altarpiece in 1752. York’s Statue of Liberty.
The vestry holds the Not surprisingly, Austria’s Stained-glass window in the Cistercian
last work by Johann own historic buildings, abbey in Viktring
Martin Schmidt. such as the Stephansdom
in Vienna, are heavily 6 km (4 miles) southwest of
E Landesmuseum represented. Many other Klagenfurt, belonged to the
Kärnten achievements and inven­ Cistercian monks who arrived in
Museumgasse 2. Tel (050536) tions are also represented Viktring in 1142. The many
30599. Closed for refurbish­ by miniature models, for castles and palaces in the
ment until late 2018. example Austrian water­ vicinity testify to the region’s
& 8 = mills, Mississippi paddle prosperity. Sights worth visiting
The collections of steamers and the include the fortified castle of
the Regional Museum, Statue on the side earliest steam trains. Mageregg (1590, altered in 1841),
founded in 1844, altar in the Dom surrounded by a zoological park
illustrate several Environs: The town of for local animals. The lovely
centuries of history in Carinthia Klagenfurt is surrounded by 12th­century Schloss Hallegg,
as well as its art, rooted in Celtic lakes and mountains; the closest which has preserved its old
and Roman cultures. The floor is Wörthersee (see pp280–81), turret, was remodelled in the
mosaic of a young Dionysus which gave the Carinthian 16th century and turned into
surrounded by hedonistic satyrs capital its byname, Rose of the a Renaissance residence with
is a beautiful example of Roman Wörthersee. Viktring Abbey, two inner courtyards.
art. One of the museum’s
curiosities is a “dragon’s skull” (in
fact a rhinoceros), found nearby,
which served as a model for
the fountain dragon in Neuer
Platz. Its discovery gave
credence to the legend that a
dragon once tormented the
town, demanding the sacrifice
of animals and humans. The
museum also holds many works
of art and handicrafts.
During the renovations, most
exhibits are packed away, but
the building remains open
for limited special exhibitions
of Carinthian paintings and
photographs.
E Minimundus
Villacher Strasse 241. Tel (0463) 21194.
Open Mar–Apr: 9am–6pm daily;
May, Jun & Sep: 9am–7pm daily;
Jul & Aug: 9am–8pm daily (until
11pm Wed). & 8 = h - 0
∑ minimundus.at
Europapark, a large green space
west of Klagenfurt, is home to
this theme park, with over 170
miniature models of the world’s
most famous buildings. They are Models of Salzburg Cathedral and Ort Castle, Minimundus

276-277_EW_Austria.indd 277 12/09/17 3:05 pm