Worth doing

The "Wiesenmarkt" takes place every year from the last Saturday in September into the month of October. For ten days, the city is filled with bargaining and celebrating. The market has something for every age, from heart-stopping roller coasters to traditional merchants’ markets, and of course there is also a great variety of culinary treats. Traditional Austrian dishes and international specialties both are on the menu. The big tents offer Austria’s best beer and live entertainment. The casual atmosphere of the fair attracts many thousands of visitors every year.

The roots of the St. Veit “Wiesenmarkt” go way back. Even centuries ago, the feast day of Michaelmas was celebrated with a small fair. However, it was not considered to be very significant, as such church days were not protected and there was no market privilege. This changed in 1362 under Rudolf IV. He granted the city a free and eternal annual market accessible to all citizens of Kärnten and the surrounding area. The privilege drew more and more merchants to St. Veit to sell their wares. Thus, one of the largest funfairs in Kärnten emerged over the last 650 years.