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Spittal an der Drau is situated at an altitude of 560 m on the river Drau at the mouth of the river Lieser. The origin of the town dates back to 1191 when a hospital was founded here by the Counts of Ortenburg (which is also the origin of the name). Since 1242 it had the status of a market town. In 1478 the town was destroyed by the Turks and rebuilt by the Counts of Ortenburg and the Princes of Porcia. In 1797 it was destroyed by French troops. Spittal obtained the status of a town in 1930.

The castle Schloss Porcia (or Schloss Salamanca) [right, no.532: background centre] at the far end of the main square was built 1533–1597 for Gabriel von Salamanca (Count of Ortenburg since 1524). It is probably Austria's most beautiful palace in Italian Renaissance style. From 1662 until 1915 it was in possession of the Princes of Porcia.