Spittal an der Drau (
Slovenian
Slovene or Slovenian may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Slovenia, a country in Central Europe
* Slovene language, a South Slavic language mainly spoken in Slovenia
* Slovenes
The Slovenes, also known as Slovenians ( sl, Sloven ...
: Špital ob Dravi) is a
town
A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world.
Origin and use
The word "town" shares an ori ...
in the western part of the
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
n federal state of
Carinthia
Carinthia (german: Kärnten ; sl, Koroška ) is the southernmost States of Austria, Austrian state, in the Eastern Alps, and is noted for its mountains and lakes. The main language is German language, German. Its regional dialects belong to t ...
. It is the administrative centre of
Spittal an der Drau District
Bezirk Spittal an der Drau is an administrative district (''Bezirk'') in the state of Carinthia, Austria.
Geography
With an area of the district is 2,763.99 km², it is Austria's second largest district by area (after Liezen), even larger th ...
, Austria's second largest district (''
Bezirk
The German term ''Bezirk'' (plural ''Bezirke'', derived from la, circulus, "circle") translated as "district" can refer to the following types of administrative divisions:
* '' Stadtbezirk'', a subdivision of a city in the sense of a borough (e ...
'') by area.
Geography
![Hauptplatzspittal](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Hauptplatzspittal.JPG)
The town is located on the southern slopes of the
Gurktal Alps
The Gurktal Alps (german: Gurktaler Alpen, sl, Krške Alpe) is a mountain range located in the Central Eastern Alps in Austria, named after the valley of the Gurk river. The range stretches west to Lake Millstatt and east to Neumarkter Sattel ( ...
(Nock Mountains), between the
Lurnfeld
Lurnfeld is a market town in the district of Spittal an der Drau in the Austrian state of Carinthia. The municipality consists of the two Katastralgemeinden: Möllbrücke and Pusarnitz, comprising several small villages.
It is located within the ...
Basin and the Lower
Drau Valley. Despite its name, the historic core of Spittal originated on the banks of the small
Lieser tributary, which flows into the Drau at the foot of Mt. Goldeck, a peak of the
Gailtal Alps , ''Drauzug''
, photo=Grosse Sandspitze 1.jpg
, photo_size=
, photo_caption=Große Sandspitze, the highest peak in the range
, country= Austria
, subdivision1_type= States
, subdivision1=
, parent=
, geology= Limestone
, orogeny=Alpine o ...
south of the town. Its summit can be reached by
cable car Cable car most commonly refers to the following cable transportation systems:
* Aerial lift, such as aerial tramways and gondola lifts, in which the vehicle is suspended in the air from a cable
** Aerial tramway
** Chairlift
** Gondola lift
*** Bi ...
.
The municipal area consists of seven
Katastralgemeinde
A cadastral community or cadastral municipality, is a Cadastre, cadastral subdivision of Municipality, municipalities in the nations of Austria,Cadastral Template for Austria, web-pageCT-AT Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Ser ...
n: Amlach, Edling, Großegg, Molzbichl, Olsach, Spittal proper, and St. Peter-Edling. In Großegg (incorporated in 1973), the area of Spittal extends to the southern shore of
Lake Millstatt
A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much larger ...
.
History
The settlement was first mentioned in an 1191 deed issued by Archbishop Adalbert of
Salzburg
Salzburg (, ; literally "Salt-Castle"; bar, Soizbuag, label=Bavarian language, Austro-Bavarian) is the List of cities and towns in Austria, fourth-largest city in Austria. In 2020, it had a population of 156,872.
The town is on the site of the ...
, when the local
Carinthian
Carinthia (german: Kärnten ; sl, Koroška ) is the southernmost Austrian state, in the Eastern Alps, and is noted for its mountains and lakes. The main language is German. Its regional dialects belong to the Southern Bavarian group. Carint ...
counts Hermann I and Otto II of
Ortenburg had a hospital (''Spittl'') with a chapel built where the ancient road leading to the
Katschberg Pass
Katschberg Pass (el. ) is a high mountain pass in the Central Eastern Alps in Austria between Rennweg am Katschberg in the state of Carinthia and Sankt Michael im Lungau in Salzburg.
Geography
It connects the Carinthian Katsch Valley in the s ...
and
Salzburg
Salzburg (, ; literally "Salt-Castle"; bar, Soizbuag, label=Bavarian language, Austro-Bavarian) is the List of cities and towns in Austria, fourth-largest city in Austria. In 2020, it had a population of 156,872.
The town is on the site of the ...
crossed the Lieser river. The adjacent settlement received
market rights
A market town is a settlement most common in Europe that obtained by custom or royal charter, in the Middle Ages, a market right, which allowed it to host a regular market; this distinguished it from a village or city. In Britain, small rural ...
in 1242. Together with the Ortenburg estates, Spittal in 1418 was inherited by Count
Hermann II of Celje. The
Counts of Cilli, raised to
immediate ''Reichsgrafen'' in 1436, became extinct when Count
Ulrich II was killed by the liegemen of
László Hunyadi in 1456, after which the
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg (), alternatively spelled Hapsburg in Englishgerman: Haus Habsburg, ; es, Casa de Habsburgo; hu, Habsburg család, it, Casa di Asburgo, nl, Huis van Habsburg, pl, dom Habsburgów, pt, Casa de Habsburgo, la, Domus Hab ...
emperor
Frederick III, also Duke of Carinthia, seized his territory.
![Spittal schloss porcia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Spittal_schloss_porcia.jpg)
Frederick granted the citizens the right to choose their own judge and the council. However, Spittal and the surrounding lands were devastated by
Turkish warriors in 1478 and shortly afterwards occupied by the
Hungarian troops of Emperor Frederick's long-time rival King
Matthias Corvinus
Matthias Corvinus, also called Matthias I ( hu, Hunyadi Mátyás, ro, Matia/Matei Corvin, hr, Matija/Matijaš Korvin, sk, Matej Korvín, cz, Matyáš Korvín; ), was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1458 to 1490. After conducting several mi ...
. Further ravaged by a peasant's revolt and two fires in 1522 and 1729, the decline continued, until in 1524 Archduke
Ferdinand I of
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
entrusted his treasurer
Gabriel von Salamanca
In Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), Gabriel (); Greek language, Greek: grc, Γαβριήλ, translit=Gabriḗl, label=none; Latin language, Latin: ''Gabriel''; Coptic language, Coptic: cop, Ⲅⲁⲃⲣⲓⲏⲗ, transli ...
(1489–1539) with the former Ortenburg county.
From 1533 onwards, the Counts of Salamanca-Ortenburg had
Schloss Porcia erected on the main square as their residence. The building in the style of an Italian ''
palazzo
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence, or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome which ...
'' is considered one of the most important
Renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...
castles in Austria. They also rebuilt the ''Spittl'' hospital on the other side of the Lieser River and the
late Gothic Catholic parish church of Mary's Annunciation upon
Romanesque foundations of the 13th century. In 1662 Spittal passed to the
Gorizia
Gorizia (; sl, Gorica , colloquially 'old Gorizia' to distinguish it from Nova Gorica; fur, label= Standard Friulian, Gurize, fur, label= Southeastern Friulian, Guriza; vec, label= Bisiacco, Gorisia; german: Görz ; obsolete English ''Gorit ...
Counts of
Porcia, owners of Schloss Porcia until 1918. Today the palace hosts an annual festival for classic theatrical comedies (''Komödienspiele Porcia'') and is also home of a museum of local history. In 1537 the Carinthian
Khevenhüller noble family had a residence erected opposite the castle, nowadays serving as the town hall.
In 1797 Spittal was sieged by
French troops in the course of the Napoleonic
War of the First Coalition
The War of the First Coalition (french: Guerre de la Première Coalition) was a set of wars that several European powers fought between 1792 and 1797 initially against the Kingdom of France (1791-92), constitutional Kingdom of France and then t ...
, in 1809 it fell with Upper Carinthia to the French
Illyrian Provinces
The Illyrian Provinces sl, Ilirske province hr, Ilirske provincije sr, Илирске провинције it, Province illirichegerman: Illyrische Provinzen, group=note were an Autonomous administrative division, autonomous province of France d ...
according to the
Treaty of Schönbrunn
The Treaty of Schönbrunn (french: Traité de Schönbrunn; german: Friede von Schönbrunn), sometimes known as the Peace of Schönbrunn or Treaty of Vienna, was signed between France and Austria at Schönbrunn Palace near Vienna on 14 October 1 ...
. Restored to the
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire (german: link=no, Kaiserthum Oesterreich, modern spelling , ) was a Central-Eastern European multinational great power from 1804 to 1867, created by proclamation out of the realms of the Habsburgs. During its existence, ...
by the 1815
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna (, ) of 1814–1815 was a series of international diplomatic meetings to discuss and agree upon a possible new layout of the European political and constitutional order after the downfall of the French Emperor Napoleon B ...
, the local economy was decisively promoted, when it gained access to the
Austrian Southern Railway
The Austrian Southern Railway (german: link=no, Österreichische Südbahn) is a long double track railway, which linked the capital Vienna with Trieste, former main seaport of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, by railway for the first time. It now ...
network in 1871. During the violent fights against
Yugoslav troops before the
Carinthian Plebiscite
The Carinthian plebiscite (german: Kärntner Volksabstimmung, sl, Koroški plebiscit) was held on 10 October 1920 in the area in southern Carinthia predominantly settled by Carinthian Slovenes. It determined the final border between the Republi ...
in 1920, Spittal for a short time was the provisional seat of the Carinthian state government, which had fled from
Klagenfurt
Klagenfurt am WörtherseeLandesgesetzblatt 2008 vom 16. Jänner 2008, Stück 1, Nr. 1: ''Gesetz vom 25. Oktober 2007, mit dem die Kärntner Landesverfassung und das Klagenfurter Stadtrecht 1998 geändert werden.'/ref> (; ; sl, Celovec), usually ...
. It formally received town privileges on the occasion of the ten-years-anniversary in 1930. Since 1995 the ''Spittl'' has been a seat of the Carinthian ''
Fachhochschule
A ''Fachhochschule'' (; plural ''Fachhochschulen''), abbreviated FH, is a university of applied sciences (UAS), in other words a German tertiary education institution that provides professional education in many applied sciences and applied arts ...
'' (University of Applied Sciences) for engineering ("Technikum").
Molzbichl
East of the town, within the Drau Valley lies the village of Molzbichl, which is home to the remains of Carinthia's first monastery, established about 780 by Duke
Tassilo III of Bavaria
Tassilo III ( 741 – c. 796) was the duke of Bavaria from 748 to 788, the last of the house of the Agilolfings. The Son of Duke Odilo of Bavaria and Hitrud, the Daughter of Charles Martell.
Tassilo, then still a child, began his rule as a Frankis ...
and abandoned in the 10th century. A small museum nearby shows several
artifacts of
Carolingian
The Carolingian dynasty (; known variously as the Carlovingians, Carolingus, Carolings, Karolinger or Karlings) was a Frankish noble family named after Charlemagne, grandson of mayor Charles Martel and a descendant of the Arnulfing and Pippin ...
origin. The foundation of the monastery church is visible south of the present parish church
Saint Tiburtius
Saint Tiburtius, according to Christian legend, was a Christian martyr. His feast day is 11 August which is the same as Saint Susanna. These saints were not related, but are sometimes associated because they are venerated on the same day.
Hagiog ...
, which itself has an altar including a
Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...
tombstone of an
Early Christian
Early Christianity (up to the First Council of Nicaea in 325) spread from the Levant, across the Roman Empire, and beyond. Originally, this progression was closely connected to already established Jewish centers in the Holy Land and the Jewish d ...
deacon
A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian churches, such as the Catholic Churc ...
Nonnosus
Saint Nonnosus ( 500 – 560 AD), also ''Nonosius'', was a prior at the San Silvestre monastery on Monte Soratte north of Rome and later a monk at Suppentonia, near Civita Castellana. He was a contemporary of Saint Benedict of Nursia. Alban B ...
, who died here in 532.
On a slope above the valley, northeast of Molzbichl is ''Schloss Rothenthurn'', in the 11th century called "Red Tower" (''Roter Turm''), a fiefdom of the Counts of Ortenburg. The present-day palace is a building from the 17th century and serves as a hotel.
Politics
![Rathaus in Spittal an der Drau](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Rathaus_in_Spittal_an_der_Drau.jpg)
Seats in the municipal assembly (''Stadtrat'') as of 2009 elections:
*
Social Democratic Party of Austria
The Social Democratic Party of Austria (german: Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs , SPÖ), founded and known as the Social Democratic Workers' Party of Austria (german: link=no, Sozialdemokratische Arbeiterpartei Österreichs, SDAPÖ) unti ...
(SPÖ): 14
*
Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ): 11
* Spittal
People's Party (SVP): 4
*
The Greens The Greens or Greens may refer to:
Current political parties
* Australian Greens, also known as ''The Greens''
* Greens of Andorra
* Greens of Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Greens of Burkina
* Greens (Greece)
* Greens of Montenegro
*Greens of Serbia
*G ...
: 1
*
Freedom Party of Austria
The Freedom Party of Austria (german: Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs, FPÖ) is a right-wing populist and national-conservative political party in Austria. It was led by Norbert Hofer from September 2019 to 1 June 2021.Staff (1 June 2021"Aust ...
(FPÖ): 1
Notable people
![Thomas Pirker - FC Vöcklabruck](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/Thomas_Pirker_-_FC_V%C3%B6cklabruck.jpg)
*
Virgil von Graben
Virgil von Graben (1430/1440 — 1507) was an Austrian noble, politician and diplomat. He was one of the most important noblemen and officials in the County of Gorizia and in the Habsburg Empire of Frederick III. and Maximilian I.
Introduction ...
(15th century — 1507) Austrian noble and knight,
stadtholder
In the Low Countries, ''stadtholder'' ( nl, stadhouder ) was an office of steward, designated a medieval official and then a national leader. The ''stadtholder'' was the replacement of the duke or count of a province during the Burgundian and H ...
of
Lienz
Lienz (; Southern Bavarian: ''Lianz'') is a Town privileges, medieval town in the Austrian state of Tyrol (state), Tyrol. It is the administrative centre of the Lienz (district), Lienz district, which covers all of East Tyrol. The municipality a ...
and
East Tyrol
East Tyrol, occasionally East Tirol (german: Osttirol), is an exclave of the Austrian state of Tyrol, separated from the main North Tyrol part by the short common border of Salzburg and Italian South Tyrol (''Südtirol'', it, Alto Adige). It is c ...
and
Regent
A regent (from Latin : ruling, governing) is a person appointed to govern a state '' pro tempore'' (Latin: 'for the time being') because the monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge the powers and duties of the monarchy ...
(captain) and
stadtholder
In the Low Countries, ''stadtholder'' ( nl, stadhouder ) was an office of steward, designated a medieval official and then a national leader. The ''stadtholder'' was the replacement of the duke or count of a province during the Burgundian and H ...
of
Province of Gorizia
The Province of Gorizia ( it, Provincia di Gorizia, fur, Provincie di Gurize; sl, Goriška pokrajina) was a province in the autonomous Friuli–Venezia Giulia region of Italy, which was disbanded on 30 September 2017.
Overview
Its capital was th ...
(Görz).
*
Rosina von Graben von Rain zu Sommeregg, (15th century in Sommeregg - 1534) Austrian noble woman from the
House of Graben von Stein
Herren von Graben, also named ''von (dem) Graben'', ''vom Graben'', ''Grabner'', ''Grabner zu Rosenburg'', ''Graben zu Kornberg'', ''Graben zu Sommeregg'', ''Graben von (zum) Stein'', and ''ab dem Graben'' was the name of an old Austrian noble fam ...
a cadet branch of the
Meinhardiner
The Counts of Gorizia (german: Grafen von Görz; it, Conti di Gorizia; sl, Goriški grofje), also known as the Meinhardiner, were a Graf, comital, Fürst, princely and Herzog, ducal dynasty in the Holy Roman Empire. Named after Gorizia Castle i ...
dynasty
*
David Pacher David Pacher (5 September 1816, Obervellach – 29 May 1902, Obervellach) was an Austrian priest and botanist.
He studied theology at the seminary in Klagenfurt, receiving his ordination in July 1840. Afterwards, he served as a clergyman in severa ...
(1816 in Obervellach – 1902) Austrian priest and
botanist
Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek wo ...
*
Hans Gasser (1817 in Eisentratten – 1868) painter and sculptor
*
Carl Gussenbauer (1842 in Obervellach – 1903) Austrian surgeon.
*
Gustav Weindorfer
Gustav Weindorfer (23 February 1874 – 5 May 1932) was an Austrian-born Australian amateur botanist, lodge-keeper and promoter of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Cradle Mountains National Park.
Early years
Weindorfer was born i ...
(1874 in Spittal – 1932) Austrian-born Australian amateur botanist, lodge-keeper and promoter of the
Cradle Mountains National Park in Tasmania
*
Max Beier
Max Beier (6 April 1903 in Spittal an der Drau – 4 July 1979 in Vienna) was an Austrian arachnologist and entomologist.
He studied zoology at the University of Vienna, and obtained his doctorate there in 1927. He took up a post at the Natural H ...
(1903 in Spittal – 1979) Austrian
arachnologist
Arachnology is the scientific study of arachnids, which comprise spiders and related invertebrates such as scorpions, pseudoscorpions, and harvestmen. Those who study spiders and other arachnids are arachnologists. More narrowly, the study of sp ...
,
entomologist
Entomology () is the scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. In the past the term "insect" was less specific, and historically the definition of entomology would also include the study of animals in other arthropod groups, such as arach ...
and specialist in
pseudoscorpions
Pseudoscorpions, also known as false scorpions or book scorpions, are small, scorpion-like arachnids belonging to the order Pseudoscorpiones, also known as Pseudoscorpionida or Chelonethida.
Pseudoscorpions are generally beneficial to humans sin ...
*
Walter Zellot
Walter Zellot (6 October 1920 – 10 September 1942) was a World War II fighter pilot from Nazi Germany. Zellot is credited with shooting down 86 Allied aircraft in 296 combat missions. Among these 83 were achieved over the Eastern Front.
Car ...
(1920 in Spittal – 1942) World War II
fighter ace
A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...
*
Herbert Haupt
Herbert Haupt (born 28 September 1947) is an Austrian politician and former party chairman of the Austrian Freedom Party. Born in Seeboden, Carinthia, and a veterinarian by training, he was federal Minister of Social Services from 2000 till 2005 ...
(born 1947 in Seeboden) Austrian politician, party chairman
Austrian Freedom Party
The Freedom Party of Austria (german: Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs, FPÖ) is a right-wing populist and national-conservative political party in Austria. It was led by Norbert Hofer from September 2019 to 1 June 2021.Staff (1 June 2021"Aust ...
a veterinarian by training,
sport
*
Hans Kary
Hans Kary (born 23 February 1949) is a former professional tennis
Tennis is a racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent ( singles) or between two teams of two players each ( doubles). Each player uses a te ...
(born 1949 in Spittal), former professional tennis player from Austria.
*
Roland Kaspitz
Roland Kaspitz (born November 1, 1981, in Spittal an der Drau) is an Austrian former professional ice hockey forward.
Kaspitz began his career with EC VSV, playing with the team until 2004 when he joined HC TWK Innsbruck. He only stayed with In ...
(born 1981 in Spittal) Austrian professional ice hockey Forward who plays for
HDD Olimpija Ljubljana
Hokejsko drsalno društvo Olimpija Ljubljana, commonly referred to as HDD Olimpija or simply Olimpija, was a Slovenian professional ice hockey club from Ljubljana. They played their home games at the Tivoli Hall. Olimpija has won 13 Yugoslav ch ...
*
Eberhard Steinböck (born 1882 in Spittal - date of death unknown) Austrian sports shooter in the
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics ( sv, Olympiska sommarspelen 1912), officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad ( sv, Den V olympiadens spel) and commonly known as Stockholm 1912, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, be ...
*
Joachim Wendt
Joachim Wendt (born 18 December 1962) is an Austrian fencing, fencer. He competed at five consecutive Summer Olympics between 1984 and 2000.
See also
* List of athletes with the most appearances at Olympic Games
References
External links ...
(born 1962 in Spittal) Austrian fencer, competed at five consecutive Summer Olympics between 1984 and 2000
*
Thomas Morgenstern
Thomas Morgenstern (born 30 October 1986) is an Austrian former ski jumper who competed from 2002 to 2014. He is one of the most successful ski jumpers of all time, having won the World Cup overall title twice with 23 individual wins, the Four H ...
(born 1986 in Spittal) Austrian former ski jumper who competed from 2002 to 2014
*
Thomas Pirker
Thomas Pirker (born 17 January 1987) is an Austrian football defender playing for WAC St. Andrä.
Career
Until the end of 2008 he was with SK Austria Kärnten, for whom he played 12 matches in the Austrian Football Bundesliga
The Austrian Foo ...
(born 1987 in Spittal) Austrian football Defender playing for
WAC St. Andrä
*
Manuel Kuttin (born 1993 in Spittal) Austrian footballer who plays for
Admira Wacker
*
Katharina Naschenweng
Katharina Elisa Naschenweng (born 16 December 1997) is an Austrian footballer who plays as a defender for 1899 Hoffenheim in the Frauen Bundesliga.
Career
Born in Spittal an der Drau, Naschenweng began playing football with local side SV Rothe ...
(born 1997 in Spittal) Austrian footballer who plays for
1899 Hoffenheim and
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
Transportation
The city has a
railway station
Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...
on the
Tauernbahn
The Tauern Railway (german: Tauernbahn) is an Austrian railway line between Schwarzach- Sankt Veit in the state of Salzburg and Spittal an der Drau in Carinthia. It is part of one of the most important north-south trunk routes (''Magistrale'') in ...
railway line from
Villach
Villach (; sl, Beljak; it, Villaco; fur, Vilac) is the seventh-largest city in Austria and the second-largest in the federal state of Carinthia. It is an important traffic junction for southern Austria and the whole Alpe-Adria region. , the po ...
to
Salzburg
Salzburg (, ; literally "Salt-Castle"; bar, Soizbuag, label=Bavarian language, Austro-Bavarian) is the List of cities and towns in Austria, fourth-largest city in Austria. In 2020, it had a population of 156,872.
The town is on the site of the ...
. It lies also near the ''A10''
Tauern Autobahn
The Tauern Autobahn (A 10) is an Autobahns of Austria, autobahn (motorway) in Austria. It starts at the Salzburg junction with the West Autobahn (A1), runs southwards, crosses the Hohe Tauern, Tauern mountain range on the main chain of the Alps an ...
as well as on the
Bundesstraße
''Bundesstraße'' (German for "federal highway"), abbreviated ''B'', is the denotation for German and Austrian national highways.
Germany
Germany's ''Bundesstraßen'' network has a total length of about 40,000 km.
German ''Bundesstraßen'' ...
n highways ''B99 Katschberg-Straße'' leading to the
Katschberg Pass
Katschberg Pass (el. ) is a high mountain pass in the Central Eastern Alps in Austria between Rennweg am Katschberg in the state of Carinthia and Sankt Michael im Lungau in Salzburg.
Geography
It connects the Carinthian Katsch Valley in the s ...
and the ''B100 Drautal-Straße'' to
Lienz
Lienz (; Southern Bavarian: ''Lianz'') is a Town privileges, medieval town in the Austrian state of Tyrol (state), Tyrol. It is the administrative centre of the Lienz (district), Lienz district, which covers all of East Tyrol. The municipality a ...
in
East Tyrol
East Tyrol, occasionally East Tirol (german: Osttirol), is an exclave of the Austrian state of Tyrol, separated from the main North Tyrol part by the short common border of Salzburg and Italian South Tyrol (''Südtirol'', it, Alto Adige). It is c ...
. A
cableway
Cable transport is a broad class of transport modes that have cables. They transport passengers and goods, often in vehicles called cable cars. The cable may be driven or passive, and items may be moved by pulling, sliding, sailing, or by driv ...
runs up to Mount ''Goldeck'' (2,142 m).
International relations
Twin towns — Sister cities
Spittal an der Drau is
twinned with:
*
Löhne
Löhne () is a town in the district of Herford, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Geography
Löhne is situated on the river Werre, approx. 8 km north of Herford and 20 km south-west of Minden.
Neighbouring places
* Hüllhorst
* Bad ...
,
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
(1973)
*
Pordenone
Pordenone (; Venetian and fur, Pordenon) is the main ''comune'' of Pordenone province of northeast Italy in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region.
The name comes from Latin ''Portus Naonis'', meaning 'port on the Noncello (Latin ''Naon'') River'.
...
,
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
(1987)
*
Porcia,
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
(1987)
References
{{Authority control
Cities and towns in Spittal an der Drau District