In the south of Austria lies the city of  Klagenfurt, the capital of Carinthia. There you will find the famous Lindwurm monument, which was erected by Ulrich Vogelsang in 1590. Although it represents a dragon, it can be regarded as the first palaeontological reconstruction. The name Lindwurm consists of two Germanic root words meaning roughly "ensnaring serpent" is a large serpent-like dragon from European mythology. It is believed that evil lindwurms symbolized war, pestilence and similar threats to ancient Europeans.

In 1335 the cranium of a wooly rhinoceros from the ice-age was found in a gravel pit near Klagenfurt. It was instantly interpreted as the skull of a dragon or Lindwurm. This fossil, which is still at exhibition at the Landesmuseum für Kärnten, served as a model for the head of the Lindwurm.

However, the legend of a dragon haunting the surroundings of Klagenfurt is much older. The name of the town can be read as "ford of lament". Floods repeatedly destroyed the crossings over the river Glan and many persons lost their lives. Thus the idea arose, that a water dragon was responsible for all the lethal accidents at the ford and in the swamps near the river Glan. The Lindwurm nourished himself on virgins and cattle from the surrounding localities. There he would hide in the eternal fog. During rain and thunderstorms people could hear him roar. To relieve the peasants from this creature, the Duke of Carinthia built a huge, strong tower at the edge of the swamps. He arranged to have some fearless knights hide there where a stout bull tied to a chain with barbs was presented as bait. Soon the winged Lindwurm appeared and devoured the bull - and hung wriggling on the chain like a fish on a hook. At once the knights rushed out of the tower where he was slain. Later the swamps were drained, and the tower was replaced by a castle. Thus the town Klagenfurt was founded. The city coat of arms still show tower and dragon as a reminder of this heroic deed.