The most ancient art treasures have their origin in the Hallstatt period (lead figures found in Frög/Rosegg), but there are also many discoveries and excavations from the period of Celtic settlement near the Magdalensberg mountain and in the surroundings of the Roman city of Virunum in the Zollfeld region. You can admire them in the Federal Carinthian Museum of Klagenfurt.

In numerous churches you will find well preserved Roman reliefs and gravestones.
The Romanesque period (10th - 13th century) was extremely significant for the Church. A good example for the typical Roman column basilica is the Cathedral of Gurk with its medieval fresco cycles on the interior walls (you can also find them in Friesach).
The Gothic period had a big influence on church architecture as well. Huge coloured glass windows set new directions. Beside the Gothic mural paintings (operas created by master Thomas from Villach in Thörl-Maglern and Gerlamoos) the famous panel paintings and carvings of the wing altars reached their perfection (in Bad St. Leonhard, Maria Elend and Maria Gail).
During the 16th century the Italian Renaissance started its influence on castles and palaces with beautiful arcades. The Castle Porcia in Spittal/Drau is one of the best known.
After the Reformation and the Turkish invasions during the 17th and 18th centuries, the Baroque period supported all kinds of art in the whole country. The Emperor, the Church and aristocracy competed with each other for splendid castles, churches and monasteries.
Many Roman-Gothic churches have been embellished with Baroque elements. The most famous Carinthian Baroque painter was Joseph Ferdinand Fromiller.
Magnificent decorated house fronts in Bad St. Leonhard, Feldkirchen and Völkermarkt remind us of the Biedermeier period in the 19th century.