Did you know Klagenfurt is the most southerly state capital of Austria? Historically seen as the economical and cultural heart of the Carinthia holiday region, with its 92,000 inhabitants, Klagenfurt sits idyllically on the beautiful Lake Wörther.

Did you know that Lake Wörther is the warmest Alpine lake in Europe? Directly on the border of Klagenfurt, the lake has an average annual temperature of 23 degrees and, covering an area of 19.4km (with a length of 16.5km), has one of the largest lake beaches in Europe. At its deepest point the water measures 84.6 metres in depth and during the winter freezes over offering skaters the chance to cover the 20km from Klagenfurt to Velden on the ice. In the summer months the world's best tri-athletes gather at Lake Wörther for the Ironman Carinthia competition and soon after it hosts the 'Beach-Volleyball Grand Slam' tournament.

Did you know that the lindworm is the official symbol and heraldic animal of Klagenfurt? The legend of the lindworm, a serpent-like dragon, states that it lived in the swamp on which Klagenfurt was later built and it ate confused cattle and sheep which wandered too close to the moor area. As the lindworm's appetite increased, the Duke erected a tower on the edge of the swamp from where the lindworm could be killed. The men of the region tied a fatted bull on a long chain with barbed hooks which would bore their way into the worm's gums when it devoured the bull. The strongest men then came to the tower and killed the lindworm with their clubs. To celebrate the demise of the creature, the Duke built a castle at the site and soon after houses were built in the area marking the beginnings of Klagenfurt. The story is still remembered today thanks to a statue of the lindworm surrounded by its slayers that was erected at 'Neuen Platz' 300 years ago.

Did you know that Austria's first pedestrian zone was in Klagenfurt? The inner city is dominated by three important pedestrian areas, of which the Kramergasse, built in 1961, was the first of its kind in Austria. The automobile free zone with Kramergasse, Wienergasse and Alten Platz offers an open invitation to walkers and shoppers, who can also relax in the many cafés and restaurants. The 'Altstadtfest' (Old City Festival) which takes place during the summer months in Klagenfurt's Altstadt has been awarded the 'Europa-Nostra-Diploma' on no less than three occasions.

Did you know that Klagenfurt, the capital of Carinthia, has 16 partner cities across the globe? For their efforts to break boundaries and cultivate relationships with other nations, Klagenfurt was awarded the Europa-Prize in 1986 and issued with the Golden Star of Partnership in 1996. Klagenfurt's partner cities are Wiesbaden, Dessau und Dachau in Germany, Venlo in the Netherlands, Gorizia in Italy, Nova Gorica in Slovenia, Gladsaxe in Denmark, Duschanbe in Tadzhikistan, Rzeszow in Poland, Zalaegerszeg in Hungary, Sibiu/Hermannstadt in Romania, Nazareth-Illit in Israel, Czernowitz in Ukraine, Tarragona in Spain, Nannig in China and Laval in Canada.

Did you know that Klagenfurt was the birthplace of popular authors Robert Musil and Ingeborg Bachmann? Both have influenced and defined German language literature, so much so that the city has honoured them in different ways. The birthplace of novelist Musil is today a literature museum, while the Ingeborg Bachmann literary competition is held in Klagenfurt every June on the 'Day of German Literature'.