Ever wondered how it is like to back to the
Roman Empire, then Villach in Austria is a town that one must visit without fail!
Well be in a city which its history referring to the Roman times? Well, if you
want to travel to such a city which has its roots dating known for its
carnivals, this town is one of the hearts of Carinthia, and it has much importance
to the country as it provides the major intersection or gateway for railway
travel, both inside the country and outside the country as well. Being one of
the countries that indulges in the Alpine convention to develop sustainability
in the region, it is a matter of significance to mention here that the first
town ever that received the Alpine Town of the Year award was Villach.
The town of Villach encompasses about 30odd
villages and it is located on the banks of the Drava River. It forms an Alpine town as it is situated in the range
that originates from the northeast near the
Ossiach lake and moves towards slopes of Dobratsch Mount. The town has a
rich cultural and historical heritage as well. The town has rich Roman
connection as it was situated right in the middle of all – important Roman road
between Noricum and Italy. This history dates back to about 15th
century because of which the town has attained great importance with the
ancient scholastic medium. The later part of the history says that the town was
hit by a major earthquake in the mid 1300’s and also in the late 160’s as well.
Both these tragedies have had a huge impact on the economy and life of the town
as major fires broke these occurrences, leading to large scale loss of life and
property.
The city earned much fame and importance with
the introduction of railways in the year 1864. Known as the Sudbahn Railway,
this railway network led to the economic development of the area in that time
period. It is said that this railway played a major role in transporting the
Austro – Hungarian Army during the First World War. However the Second World
War was a complete eyesore to the town as the bombings led to the damage of
almost nearly all the property in the town. History reckons that as many
as 300 people were killed back then in
the 40,000odd bombings that occurred in the town.
However it is said that the town of Villach was
one of the quickest to recover from this crooked act by allies. The town sprung
back into normal over a short period of time and the economic aspect of the town started
booming with the rise in popularity with tourism. The scenic beauty of the town
ha been backed up by the government. Though Villach doesn’t have an airport of
its own. The nearby Airport of Klagenfurt is the best way
to reach the town . however the train routes have been some of the best in
Austria with this sleepy town providing the gateway to some of the most
important cities in the country, namely Belgrade, Venice, Linz Graz and Vienna
as well. The town is also accessible by the highways A10 and A2, however though
these are not recommended as a thing to watch out for by local people.
Some of the activities that have to be done
while visiting the Villacheer Fahrzeug Museum and the Museum der Stadt Villach.
Both these museums provide artifacts that show the richness of the Roman
Empire. A good one hour at the Museum will provide an insight to the rich
cultural heritage of the town. Another place to visit in the town is the
Landskron Castle, which lies at a height of about 676 meters above the sea
level. The best time to visit the castle is Tuesday. A dinner is served by the
people of Villach, known as the “ Medieval Dinner”. People come dressed in the
traditional costumes and serve the dishes that are home to the town. This activity
provides an insight into the rich
cultural aspects of the town. There is also the rich falconry in the castle,
and if you are lucky enough, then you might be able to catch up with some of
the birds that fly right over your head as well.
Another important place to visit in Villach is
the Krimmler Waterfalls. Regarded as the largest waterfalls in all Austria, the
place gives you a breath – taking view of the scenic beauty of the countryside.
There is also the Thermen Resort which provides the best of vortex pools and
hot pools in the region. So if you decide to stay in the town of Villach, then
this resort will be the perfect one to do so as it
provides all these facilities at an affordable
cost of about 8 Euros for three hours. There s also an attached restaurant
which serves traditional and tasty
dishes in Villach.