Austrian Southern Railway
In the early 19th century the marshy shores were home only to a handful of poor peasants. The opening of the Austrian Southern Railway line ("Südbahn") to Klagenfurt in 1863, later extended to Villach along the northern shore, quickly turned the Wörthersee into an exclusive summer retreat for Vienna's nobility and wealthy bourgeoisie. Especially Velden and Pörtschach developed to main tourist resorts.