Velden am Wörther See (Slovenian Vrba na Koroškem) is a market
town and a legally recognized climatic health resort with 9025
inhabitants (as of January 1, 2020) in the Villach-Land district in
Carinthia. The place is one of the best known and most popular
tourist destinations in Austria.
The oldest written mention
of Velden comes from the year 1150. The name is derived from Velben
(pasture).
Since the 12th century, the Velden area belonged
to the Hohenwart Lordship and Castle, which over the centuries
belonged to the Counts of Ortenburg and Cilli, the Millstatt Order
of St. George and the Habsburgs. In 1545, the Khevenhüller acquired
rule over Landskron and Velden. The independent rule of Velden from
1603 passed into the possession of the Counts of Dietrichstein in
the course of the Counter-Reformation in 1629.
When the rule
was dissolved by the municipal law of March 17, 1849, the municipal
territory comprised the cadastral communities of Velden, Augsdorf,
Duel, Lind Emmersdorf, Kerschdorf, Köstenberg and Sand. On January
1, 1850, these communities became the independent large community of
Velden, which changed its size several times in the 19th and 20th
centuries. When the municipal structure in Carinthia was reorganized
in 1972/73, the municipality was reduced to roughly the size of
1850.
In 1853 the liner shipping started with the paddle
steamer "Maria-Wörth". Eleven years later, the Wörthersee was
connected to the railway network through the extension of the
Drautalbahn (now called Südbahn) from Klagenfurt to Villach. In the
same year, 1864, with the opening of the first bathing establishment
in Velden, which was soon followed by others, the development of the
spa began.
On March 13, 1881, a major fire broke out, which
destroyed the old rural Velden and contributed to the fact that
Velden was developed into a villa health resort before the beginning
of the bathing season.
The community has had the suffix "am
Wörther See" since 1893, Velden has been a market town since May 2,
1947.
On March 18, 2017, the local council unanimously
decided to stop construction for two years in order to put a stop to
the further construction of "blocks" on or near the lake. The
endeavor is to preserve free access to the lake and the already
polluted place and landscape for locals and tourists. A development
plan is to be drawn up by November 2018 that will create more open
spaces and green spaces, especially in the bank area.
Due to its favorable geographic location on the shore of Lake
Wörthersee, Velden is a popular health resort and place to live.
Therefore, in Velden, as in other places around Lake Wörthersee, there
are a large number of architecturally important buildings, especially
villas:
Velden Castle
Catholic parish church Augsdorf Maria
Rosary Queen
Catholic parish church Kranzlhofen hl. John the Baptist
Catholic parish church of Velden am Wörthersee Our Lady
Casino Velden
was opened in 1922 and taken over in 1934 by the state-owned
Österreichische Casino AG (today Casinos Austria). A new building begun
in 1987 was handed over in 1989.
Villa Helene (formerly Villa
Schick), built as a country house at the end of the 19th century
Residential and commercial building in Kuzmany, Georg Wünschmann,
1897/98
Mösslacherhaus, formerly built by Franz Baumgartner
Hotel
Kointsch, Franz Baumgartner, 1909
Hotel Mösslacher, Franz
Baumgartner, 1912
Hotel Carinthia, Franz Baumgartner, 1924/26
Villa Stelzer, Franz Baumgartner, 1925
Fire station, Franz
Baumgartner, 1925
House Klützke, Franz Baumgartner, 1925/30
House
Hilde Gessenharter, Franz Baumgartner, 1930
House lake view, Franz
Baumgartner, 1933
Villa Carinthia, built at the end of the 19th
century
To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the reign of Emperor
Franz Joseph I (1848-1916), the Kaiserbrunnen was built not far from the
Velden train station. He donates high spring drinking water. The
fountain, which is supplied by the Velden-Schiefling waterworks, was
renovated in 1969.
recreational areas
In addition to the town
of Velden itself and Lake Wörthersee, there are a few other places in
Velden that serve as recreation areas for the citizens and spa guests of
Velden. In this context, the Jeserzer See, which is located entirely in
the local area of Velden, the so-called Bäckerteich and the Forstsee,
which is located in the area of the municipality of Techelsberg am
Wörther See, are particularly noteworthy.
Regular events
International Sports Car Weeks and Sports Car Festival Velden, annually
in June, organizer: Heribert Kasper
International Humor Festival
Velden, every September since 2009, director: Christian Hölbling
Velden promenade, every year in July and August, every evening – street
art at the Seecorso
Velden-Village, annually in September - Velden
celebrates with the fans of the European Bike Week
Velden Advent,
annually on the Advent weekends
Water
sports, bike tours, hiking, motorcycling, golf, running, jogging,
Nordic walking
Auriga Spa offers wellness treatments with
natural and organic products that are tailored to the phases of the
moon.
The oldest documented mention of Velden dates back to 1150. The name
derives from Velben (pasture).
Since the 12th century, the area
of today's Velden has belonged to the lordship of Hohenwart Castle,
which over the centuries has been owned by the Counts of Ortenburg and
Cilli, the Millstätter Order of St. George and finally the Habsburgs. In
1545, the Khevenhüller family acquired control of Landskron and thus
also of Velden. In the course of the Counter-Reformation in 1629, the
sovereignty of Velden, which became independent in 1603, became the
property of the Counts of Dietrichstein.
When the rule was
dissolved by the municipal law of March 17, 1849, the municipal
territory included the cadastral municipalities of Velden, Augsdorf,
Duel, Lind Emmersdorf, Kerschdorf, Köstenberg and Sand. On January 1,
1850, these communities became the independent municipality of Velden,
which changed its size several times in the 19th and 20th centuries.
When the municipal structure in Carinthia was reorganized in 1972/73,
the municipal area was reduced to about the size of 1850.
In
1853, liner shipping on the Wörthersee began operations with the paddle
steamer "Maria-Wörth". Eleven years later, the Wörthersee region was
connected to the railway network by expanding the Drautalbahn, today
called the Südbahn. In the same year, 1864, Velden's development into a
health resort began with the opening of the first bathing establishment
in Velden, which was soon to be followed by others.
On March 13,
1881 there was a major fire that destroyed the old rural Velden and
contributed to Velden being developed into a "villa spa town" even
before the bathing season began.
The community has had the suffix
"am Wörther See" since 1893, and Velden has been a market community
since May 2, 1947.
During the Carinthian defensive struggle in
1919, troops from the SHS state advanced as far as Velden and
temporarily occupied the town, which is commemorated today by a memorial
stone.
On March 18, 2017, the municipal council of Velden
unanimously decided to ban construction for certain geographical
sections of the municipal area for a period of two years in order to
limit the further construction of "Klötzen" in the vicinity or even
directly on Lake Wörthersee. The aim of this measure was to ensure free
access to the lake for local residents and tourists and to preserve the
historical townscape of Velden.
Business
Traditionally, Velden is a community that is economically
shaped primarily by tourism. Of the more than 2500 jobs in the village,
100 are in agriculture and almost 400 in the production and trade
sectors. Over 2000 people are currently employed in the service sector.
Above all, the social, public services with 600 employees and the area
of accommodation and gastronomy with 500 employees should be mentioned
here. In addition, the trade with 400 employees is an important local
employer (as of 2011). Of the approx. 500,000 overnight stays in Velden
each year, more than 100,000 are in July and August. About half of the
guests are Austrians (as of 2019).
Traffic
Train: Velden is on
the southern railway with train and S-Bahn connections to Villach and
Klagenfurt. There is a bus stop in the local area (Lind/Rosegg) and the
historic train station of Velden, which is located near the town centre.
Roads: The southern A2 motorway runs in the north of the municipal area.
Velden is connected to this with two feeder lines (Velden Ost and Velden
West). Velden is also on the Carinthian federal highway B 83.
Schools
In the municipality of Velden am Wörther See there are
currently 4 public elementary schools (Velden, St.Egyden, Köstenberg and
Lind ob Velden) and one public middle school. In addition, Velden is the
location of a so-called international school, namely the ISC Carinthia.