History Of Velden am Wörther See

Velden has a documented history that dates all the way back to 1150. The name comes from Velben (pasture).

The area of today’s Velden has a rich history dating back to the 12th century. It was under the rule of Hohenwart Castle, which was owned by various noble families such as the Counts of Ortenburg and Cilli, the Millstätter Order of St. George, and eventually the Habsburgs. The Khevenhüller family gained control of Landskron in 1545, which also meant they had control over Velden. The Velden rulership, which gained independence in 1603, came under the ownership of the Counts of Dietrichstein in 1629 during the Counter Reformation.

The municipal territory, which encompassed the cadastral communities of Velden, Augsdorf, Duel, Lind Emmersdorf, Kerschdorf, Köstenberg, and Sand, saw the dissolution of the rule by the municipal law of March 17, 1849. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the size of these communities changed multiple times, eventually leading to the establishment of the independent municipality of Velden on January 1, 1850. The municipal area in Carinthia underwent a reorganization in 1972/73, resulting in a reduction in size to approximately its 1850 dimensions.

The operations on Lake Wörthersee started in 1853 with the paddle steamer “Maria-Wörth”. After a span of eleven years, the Wörthersee region finally became part of the railway network with the expansion of the Drautalbahn, which is now known as the Southern Railway. In 1864, the first bathing establishment in Velden began to open, with others soon following. Additionally, this aligned perfectly with Velden’s transformation into a renowned health resort.

In March 13, 1881, a significant fire broke out, resulting in the complete destruction of the quaint, rural townscape of Velden. Velden underwent development into a “villa health resort” prior to the start of the bathing season. The community has been known as “am Wörther See” since 1893. Velden has been a market town since May 2, 1947.

In 1919, as part of the Carinthian defensive campaign, the troops of the SHS state made significant progress by advancing to Velden. They were able to temporarily occupy the area, and this event is now commemorated by a memorial stone.

The Velden municipal council made a unanimous decision on March 18, 2017, to implement a construction ban in specific areas of the municipal area for a duration of two years. The purpose of this ban is to restrict the construction of “blocks” near or on Lake Wörthersee. This measure was implemented to guarantee unrestricted access to the lake for both local residents and tourists, while also preserving the historical townscape of Velden.