Description of the attraction
The majestic, romantic Velden Castle, now converted into the Kapella Hotel, is located on the western shore of Lake Wörthersee in the Carinthian town of Velden.
The first owner of Velden Castle was Bartholomeus Kevenhüller (1539-1613), Baron von Achelberg, representative of one of the noble, influential families of Carinthia. Kevenhüller was not only an entrepreneur, but also the manager of the estate of the burgrave of Carinthia. He constantly shuttled between his ancestral residence, Castle Landskron and Klagenfurt. To make his life easier, the baron bought an estate in 1585 near the village of Velden, which was located just halfway between the Landskron castle and Klagenfurt. On the lands he bought on the shores of Lake Wörthersee, there was a lonely mill. The baron built a representative house instead of her, which cost him a substantial sum - 23 thousand guilders. The rectangular structure with four corner towers at the corners was completed by 1603.
From 1639 to 1716, Velden Castle belonged to the powerful aristocrats Dietrichstein. They did not live here permanently, but only gathered for family celebrations. In 1762, a fire destroyed most of the Velden mansion. It was only partially restored, and some of the corner towers were demolished altogether. In those days, an inn was established in the castle.
At the end of the 19th century, tourists flocked to Lake Wörthersee. It was at this time that the famous porcelain manufacturer Ernst Waliss from Vienna decided to go into the hotel business. Among other objects on the lake, he also acquired Velden Castle, which he restored and opened an exclusive hotel here. Since the 50s of the last century, the castle has been used as a backdrop for filming films and TV series. In 2012, the castle was turned into a hotel again.
