Top 20 Castles around Rastenfeld

Schloss Waldreichs was first documented in 1258. Around 1400, Kaspar and Bernhard von Waldreichs are mentioned as feudal lords. After its destruction by an executionary army of the estates in 1446–1448, it was rebuilt as a fortress around 1450 under Hans Harrasser. The present-day ruin in the east wing, the chapel, and the eastern tower date from this period. In 1460, it was enfeoffed to Vinzenz Stodoligk. From 1519–1536, it was united with the Lordship of Ottenstein. Between 1530–1534, it was converted into a moated castle under Eustach Stodoligk. From 1533, it was a free property. In 1536, the complex passed to the Barons of Altena, who expanded it with a zwinger and a manor farm. After its conquest and plundering by imperial troops, the complex was rebuilt again and subsequently changed owners frequently. When it passed to Heinrich von Pereira-Arnstein in 1815, it was united with the Lordship of Wetzlas.

The castle is idyllically situated on the cycle paths and is perfectly embedded in the landscape.

Like so many others, this beautiful moated castle is privately owned and therefore not open to the public. But very well preserved because it is managed. I was lucky that the lord of the castle personally allowed me a short tour. Story: From 1114 a ministerial family of the Kuenringers is mentioned here several times. The castle-like predecessor building, first mentioned in the Zwettler Chronicle in 1172, was owned by the Kuenringers in the 13th century and passed to the Lichteneggers around 1300 and in 1337 to the Lords of Neidegg, who owned a large part of today's community in the 15th and 16th centuries . The castle received its current appearance under Johann Hartmann von Trautmannsdorf, who came into his possession through marriage in 1581 and had it rebuilt in the Renaissance style: In the north-east corner, the local incorporation is marked 1584. Around 1670, Field Sergeant and Court Warden Ferdinand Ernst Graf Herberstein acquired the lordships of Lichtenau, Allentsgschwendt and Brunn, making Brunn the administrative center of Herberstein's possessions in Lower Austria. In 1792 Johann Graf Stiebar acquired these dominions and in 1803 Anton Edler von Meidl followed as owner. In 1812, k., who had become rich through marriage, took over. k. Lieutenant Josef Michael von Ehrenfels took over the property and undertook an extensive renovation of the castle, whereby the interior was partly furnished in the neo-baroque style. During the Second World War, Lieutenant Commander Hermann Ehrhardt acquired the castle and lived here until 1971. Today it is privately owned.

First mentioned in a document in 1258, in the Middle Ages Waldreichs belonged to a ring of fortified castles that were built to protect the Austrian Mark. Nothing remains of the original moated castle. In the area around Waldreichs Castle, the imperial master falconer and feudal knight Hanns Hager resided and dined from and to Allentsteig and Lichtenfels. After multiple changes of ownership and the threat of decay, the current owner, the Windhag Scholarship Foundation for Lower Austria, began to completely renovate the castle in 1983. The castle itself CANNOT be VISITED but only admired from the outside. Only those parts and the area where the Lower Austrian Falconry & Birds of Prey Center is located are freely accessible.

Story: Before the Lower Austrian energy supply built three barrages on the Kamp in 1960, Ottenstein was a lonely castle. Ottenstein is mentioned for the first time in 1177 and was built as a fortification of the Babenberg settlements against the northern border. Ditches and a stone bridge, outwork, gate tower and the "Stöckl" laid out in a semicircle with the two round towers still give an idea of this former function. In 1624, the Counts of Lamberg came into possession of Ottenstein and a second phase of conversion followed: A princely palace was created from disjointed wings and a tower, and the former keep was transformed into a stairwell. Ottenstein Castle today: During a restoration phase in 1974, frescoes were discovered in the Romanesque castle chapel, a vaulted room with a semi-circular apse, which drew art lovers from all over the world to Ottenstein. Inside, Ottenstein Castle hides sights, it offers a variety of rooms for your celebrations of all kinds: weddings, family celebrations, company celebrations, knight's banquets, events... The castle kitchen is also well known. Whether it's a banquet, a la carte or at a knight's dinner - here you will experience culinary delights. Information about opening hours, events in the Hotel Restaurant Ottenstein. https://hotelottenstein.at/

Mighty ruin that is worth a visit.

A really beautiful ruin in an idyllic landscape. Worth seeing.

The mighty castle ruin Dobra lies on a promontory that protrudes far into the Dobra reservoir. It was once the ancestral seat of a branch of the ministerial dynasty of the Lords of Dobra and was first mentioned in a document in 1278. The stretched, spacious facility has two entrances in the north and south, is 95 m long and 37 m wide.