The earliest traces of human settlement in the area date back to 3500 B.C.  A number of Roman artifacts have also been found. Villach was nearly destroyed by two major earthquakes, in 1348 and 1690, and suffered several fires. Napoleon made it part of France, and Austria regained it in 1813. The city was bombed heavily during World War II and not many old buildings have been preserved.

Set against the background of the magnificent Alps, Villach is small, clean, orderly and charming. There are excellent facilities for winter sports nearby: a panoramic road will take you up into the mountain where there are excellent slopes for skiing and snowboarding, and jump hills that have hosted World Cup competitions in 1995 and 2001.  In summer, the mountains welcome hiking and cycling enthusiasts with well marked trails and spectacular scenery. The lakes are simply gorgeous: Faaker See, Ossiach,  Magdalener See,  Vassacher See,  St. Leonharder See,  Fleetsee,  Silbersee,  Grünsee.  for skating in winter, swimming, sailing and fishing in summer: it is not for nothing that they are one of Carinthia's greatest prides.

It is a pleasure to explore the city's streets and squares. A fountain splashes in the City Hall square where feasts and fairs take place and the tourist information center is found. Hauptplatz, the main square, is a nice pedestrian area and the most popular place for shopping. The church of St. Jacob is easily distinguished by its 94-metre-high bell tower, the tallest in Carinthia. If you climb the 239 steps to its top, you will have the best panoramic view of the city and the mountain. The church was built in 1136 and reconstructed in the 14th - 15th Century.

The beautiful Church of St. Nikolay stands across the Drau from the new Conference Centre, the largest and the most modern in southern Austria.  The Church of the Holy Cross is another fine building in Baroque style. The cross painted on its outer wall has been credited with miraculous healings.