Rail & Trail "Spittal - courtly splendor & care" (city walk)

Spittal - The essence of the town
Between the mighty mountain flanks of the Goldeck and the gentle ridge of Lake Millstatt lies the pretty town of Spittal in the plain of the Drau Valley. The town's name goes back to a hospital that the Counts of Ortenburg built here in 1191 on the old trade route between Augsburg and Venice for pilgrims, the sick and the needy. A flourishing settlement grew up around this facility, which was granted market rights as early as 1242. Spittal experienced its heyday from the 16th century onwards when Gabriel of Salamanca, the treasurer of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria, took over the Ortenburgs' property. The construction of the magnificent Renaissance castle - one of the most beautiful complexes north of the Alps - brought courtly splendor to Spittal. Later in the 18th century, the market experienced a new heyday under the Italian princely family Porcia. It's hard to believe, but the town was only declared a town in 1930.

Spittal - Discover on foot
The starting point is the historic Spittal-Millstättersee railroad station. The impressive building was erected in 1909 to mark the opening of the Tauern Railway. Spittal became the junction of two important railroad lines - marking the beginning of the summer resort era. We continue our walk through the contemporary urban area to the hidden parish church of Maria Verkündigung, the origin of the town. The hospital once stood here, around which the settlement developed. In 1522, the market burned down and the hospital was rebuilt on the other bank of the Lieser. On the way to the Lieserbrücke bridge, the ornate façade decoration of the Petzlbräu - once the Porcia brewery - catches the eye in Bogengasse. Shortly afterwards, we are standing on the Lieserbrücke bridge. The large yellow building on the left is the new hospital, now the University of Applied Sciences. Gabriel of Salamanca donated the spacious Renaissance building for the benefit of the needy, the sick and those passing through - further evidence of care and compassion in the city's history. We turn back at the heel and stroll across the lively main square after the archway: individual historic houses tell of proud bourgeoisie. The highlight is the magnificent Porcia Castle - one of the most beautiful Renaissance buildings north of the Alps! It is open all year round and can be visited free of charge. Directly opposite - between the banks - is the equally magnificent Khevenhüller City Palace (now the town hall). The courtly splendor can still be felt in this quarter today. Before we take a stroll through the stately Stadtpark - today the heart of the city - it is worth walking up Tiroler Straße to the end of the park. The ornate Art Nouveau houses tell of the heyday of the summer resort. We return to our starting point via the contemporary Bahnhofstrasse.