Top 17 Castles around Brückl

It takes about 1 hour to visit the museum. We found the entrance fee too high for what was offered. But everyone can decide for themselves 😉.

Still worth seeing even after the renovation.

Hochsterwitz Castle with restaurant at the entrance

Beautiful view of the castle

The fortifications of the Burgweg with 14 large gate structures leading in several turns through the rocky terrain to the top are characteristic and interesting from a fortress point of view. This road overcomes deeper rock notches at a moderate incline, occasionally leads along carved rock walls or widens to weapon sites until it reaches the main castle. A second approach, called the Narrensteig, leads up the steep, rocky western slope, is partly carved into the rock and leads into the castle without touching the gates of the main path. This access was blocked off by a defensive transverse wall erected at the lowest part with a few additions that no longer exist today. Both defensible approaches existed in earlier times, as reported by the 13th-century chronicler Unrest. Due to its age, the castle can be found both as a medieval fortress and as a fortress in the modern sense. A document from 1388 mentions the original design, consisting of a square tower or keep, the adjoining living quarters (palas), the small castle chapel and protective walls with battlements (wintperge) and embrasures, when the crossbow was still the main weapon. The actual core of the complex, the stronghold, is an independent defense body that includes older parts. The gates, partly in red sandstone, partly in green chlorite slate and enriched with white limestone or marble, are noteworthy as Mannerist architecture.

The beautifully renovated Taggenbrunn Castle regularly hosts the Taggenbrunn Festival, one of the most renowned cultural festivals in Carinthia. André Heller also curated the exhibition "Zeiträume" (Time Spaces), which is absolutely worth seeing. More information is available at https://www.taggenbrunn.at/de/.

The mountain cone, which is particularly suitable for a large and solid castle complex, rises completely freely from a gently undulating plain. The road, secured by 14 gates, circles around it in multiple turns at a comfortable incline, bridges deep ravines, leans against skilfully carved rock walls, widens out to form weapons positions until it reaches the main castle crowning the mountain peak. A second staircase, called the Fool's Path, leads over the steep and rocky western slope of the mountain cone, is partially carved into the rock and allows access to the actual castle without touching the gates of the road.

This castle is located high above the Drau - west of Völkermarkt - and allows a magnificent view of the immediate surroundings and the Karawanken. King Duke Heinrich allowed the Land Marshal Konrad von Aufenstein to build a castle in 1329, which was called "Neydenstein Castle" in old documents. It was later converted into a chateau on the spot, renovated in the 16th century and given a Baroque touch in the 17th century. The arcaded courtyard also dates from this period.