Decay

Endangered architectural jewel: how it could be saved

Schlosshotel Wörthersee on the brink of ruin

(Bild: Uta Rojsek-Wiedergut)

The Schlosshotel Wörthersee has been waiting years to be renovated. A private initiative now wants to speed things up.

The Association to Save the Hotel Wörthersee has been drawing attention to the poor condition of this architectural gem for years. The members have had to watch the building gradually fall into disrepair. That is why they are desperately looking for investors who could bring the building back to life. Markus Landerer from the Initiative Denkmalschutz is convinced that something like this is possible. He points to the example of Bad Gastein: "The province of Salzburg bought up the Badeschloss and Hotel Straubinger and left the derelict buildings to private investors. They have turned them into real gems."

Buying the castle hotel
The association in Klagenfurt is also hoping for financially strong investors. Chairwoman Sabine Biedermann: "Unfortunately, the state of Carinthia and the city have failed to order measures to protect the hotel. The first thing to do now is to buy the building from the Polish owner."

Only with a new owner would it be possible to get down to business. "Among other things, it would be conceivable to house a student hostel and a museum here," says Biedermann. The association would be prepared to make a financial contribution and raise money through building block campaigns and other initiatives such as Wörthersee ice cream or Wörthersee croissants.