Parish Church of Villach-St. Jacob.

Dominating Villach’s old town, the Parish Church of St. Jakob is a late-Gothic hall church with roots stretching back to the 12th century. While the historic, monument-protected interior still hosts an active congregation, the primary draw for travelers is the soaring 94-meter bell tower—the tallest steeple in Carinthia. Clambering up the 239 steps to the former tower keeper’s quarters rewards visitors with an uninterrupted panoramic view that stretches across the city’s rooftops to the dramatic peaks of the Hohen Tauern and Julian Alps. It is a striking architectural anchor that serves as both an ideal orientation point for exploring the historic center and a premier vantage point for taking in the region's alpine landscape.