Discover Millstatt: Abbey Church, Villa Trail and Hiking

Millstatt brings together a range of themes for a stay: architectural and art history, a self-guided route through the town, and opportunities for hiking, playing golf and exploring the lake. If you are looking for a hotel in Millstatt, you can first consider which focus you would like your stay to have. The following sights and activities offer concrete ideas to help you decide.

Abbey Church and Art History

Construction of Millstatt Abbey Church began around 1130. It was completed around 1170 with the construction of the twin-towered westwork and the porch. These architectural features mark the completion of the building phase. The church also houses a Last Judgement fresco by Urban Görtschacher, dating from around 1518.

The cloister is also part of the art-historical story of the Abbey Church. Its architectural sculpture makes it one of Austria’s most significant Romanesque monuments. The building’s history, the fresco and the cloister each offer a different perspective, from medieval architecture to a painting from the early 16th century.

The Millstatt Lenten Veil of 1593 is another point of interest. Its fabric measures more than 50 square metres. After the Gurk Lenten Veil of 1458, it ranks among the largest surviving canvas paintings in the entire Alpine region. Its size and comparison place the Lenten Veil in context both in terms of its dimensions and its regional significance.

The Millstatt Abbey Museum offers a comprehensive overview of Millstatt’s history and the cultural heritage associated with it. This means that the town’s history is explored as a connected subject, alongside individual buildings and works of art.

Villa Trail and Cultural Events

The Villa Trail is a self-guided route through Millstatt, passing 20 villas dating from the era of imperial summer residences. You can plan it as an independent theme for your stay; it combines a visit to the town with the history of these villas. Unlike a hike on the Via Paradiso, the Villa Trail runs through Millstatt and focuses on the villas themselves.

Cultural events in Millstatt include the Millstatt Music Weeks and the International Guitar Festival. Programmes and dates vary. If an event is important to your travel plans, check in advance which dates fall within your travel period.

Hiking, Golf and Trips on the Lake

Millstatt is a starting point for hikes on the Via Paradiso. High above Lake Millstatt, the mountains are also home to a challenging, very hilly 18-hole golf course. If golf is a key interest for your trip, bear in mind that operating details may vary by season.

You can also explore Lake Millstatt by scheduled boat. Timetables are seasonal and should be checked before your trip. These options each offer a different focus: a hike on the Via Paradiso, a challenging round of golf, or exploring the lake by boat. Which one suits your trip depends on how you would like to spend your time.

Millstatt’s lido features a listed diving tower dating from 1930. It has platforms at heights of three, five and ten metres, as well as a small and a large slide. As the lido may operate seasonally, check whether it is open during your travel period before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Baldramsdorf, Irschen, Emberg, Obergottesfeld, Egg, Rangersdorf, Döbriach, Oberdrauburg.

Return to the main travel overview: Spittal An Der Drau.