Paternion

The Drau Cycle Path, which leads from the source of the Drau right across Carinthia to Maribor in Slovenia, also runs across municipal land. There is also an open-air pool with a beach volleyball court as well as angling facilities on the Drau, so there is no reason to be bored. If you want, you can also take the Lansach Drau ferry, which connects Paternion with Weißenstein between May and September.

Castles, churches, archaeological finds and excavations, and numerous events invite visitors to enjoy art and culture. Thus for example the art association “Grünspan” regularly organises concerts, readings and exhibitions in a former stable building.

A striking building is the extensive Paternion Castle, owned by the Foscari-Widmann-Rezzonico family. This former aristocratic residence is under protection as a historic monument, and houses the family’s forest and estate administration.

 

A very special work of art in Paternion is the Pöllan “stairway to heaven”. This stands near the village of Feistritz an der Drau, and was created by the art workshop of Roland A. Mikula under the motto “Never go alone at midnight”. The 21-step stairway, which apparently leads into empty space, is intended to bring visitors closer to heaven and stimulate reflective thought.