5 Best Sights in Friesach, Carinthia and Graz

The Dominican Monastery of St. Nikolaus von Myra is named after St. Nikolaus, the man who eventually became pop culture's Saint Nick and Santa Claus. The monastery is near the town's moat, and was rebuilt in 1673, though the church nearby dates from 1217. Take a moment to notice the stone statue of the Virgin Mary inside the monastery, and the massive crucifix.

It's easy to find the Hauptplatz (main square), with its old town hall and gleaming, multicolor, pastel facades. As you stroll you'll discover aspects of the medieval-era town: beautiful stone houses, the double wall, and the towers, gates, and water-filled moat.

From a footpath at the upper end of the Hauptplatz, behind the Raiffeisenbank, take a steep 20-minute climb up 323 steps to the impressive remains of Schloss Petersberg. (An easier path to see the 12th- and 13th-century castle can be found next to Villa Bucher.) The Stadtmuseum (city museum) displays the history of the oldest city in Carinthia. Additionally, make a stop at the Petersbergkirche, a Romanesque church first built in 1130.

The 12th-century Romanesque Stadtpfarrkirche (parish church) has some excellent stained glass in the choir.