Amendment to the law

New hope for Carinthia’s dilapidated monuments

Hotel Wörthersee: Built in 1891, the hotel once housed 130 guest rooms and three dining rooms. The dilapidated building is currently owned by a Polish investor.(Bild: Rojsek-Wiedergut Uta)

Many monuments in Carinthia have been threatened by decay for years. The most striking example of this is the Hotel Wörthersee in the eastern bay of Klagenfurt. But now there is new hope for Carinthia's old buildings.

When the new Monument Protection Act comes into force on September 1, it could mean hope for historic architectural gems that have so far been left to decay - without legal consequences. For the first time, the new law provides for a preservation obligation and more money for the Federal Monuments Office. Its budget is to be increased by six million euros.

One of the best-known examples of neglected architectural monuments in Carinthia is probably the Hotel Wörthersee in the eastern bay of Klagenfurt. After the once magnificent building has changed hands several times in recent years, the building, which has now fallen into ruin, is once again up for sale. However, no interested party has yet been found to breathe new life into the former hotel. This is probably also due to the wretched condition of the building fabric. Sabine Biedermann and Barbara Hofer from the Verein zur Rettung des Hotels Wörthersee regret that it has not yet been possible to stop the decay.

Brunnwirt House: The former town house in the center of Grades in the Metnitz Valley is adorned with frescoes by Switbert Lobisser.(Bild: Grades)

Gasthof Pichler: Built between the 13th and 15th centuries, the house in Federaun near Villach is in danger of collapsing.(Bild: Federaun)

Ratsch-Thresl House: Theresia Kuttnig (1841- 1912), a well-known original known as Ratsch-Thresl, lived in this house in Klagenfurt.(Bild: Rojsek-Wiedergut Uta)

Waldenstein Castle: The former castle was built around 1150 on behalf of the Bamberg diocese and later expanded into a castle.(Bild: Rojsek-Wiedergut Uta)

Schrottenturm: The 67 meter high tower in Krumpendorf was completed in 1824.(Bild: Klaus Kreuzer)

Hotel Wörthersee: Built in 1891, the hotel once housed 130 guest rooms and three dining rooms. The dilapidated building is currently owned by a Polish investor.(Bild: Rojsek-Wiedergut Uta)

Other architectural monuments in our province are in a similar situation. Markus Landerer, Chairman of the Monument Protection Initiative, believes that the state representatives have a duty: "Carinthia is unfortunately bringing up the rear in this respect. In other federal states, much more is being done to preserve our cultural heritage."

We welcome the new law, but it also has its weaknesses. The additional six million euros are just a drop in the ocean.

Sabine Biedermann

The future of architectural monuments will be the subject of a discussion today, Monday, at the Kulturraum Ventil on Kardinalplatz in Klagenfurt (18:30).