Experience the best of Klagenfurt

Klagenfurt lies at the eastern end of the Wörthersee, a warm Alpine lake in the south of Austria, with the Karawanks mountains rising to the south along the border with Slovenia. The centre is a grid of squares and arcaded courtyards laid out in the sixteenth century, and the Lindwurm, a stone dragon fountain from 1590, is the symbol of the city.

The Landhaus, the former provincial parliament, has a hall painted with coats of arms, and the Lendkanal, a canal built in the sixteenth century, links the old town with the lake. A large lido stands on the shore. The Pyramidenkogel, a wooden observation tower about 100 metres tall, looks down on the lake from the south, and the castle of Hochosterwitz crowns a rocky hill to the north-east, reached through a series of fortified gates.

Kasnudeln, large dumplings filled with cheese, and Reindling, a yeast cake baked with raisins and cinnamon, are Carinthian classics, and lake fish is served in lakeside restaurants. The Wörthersee warms enough for swimming in summer.