Burgschleinitz Castle

Burgschleinitz-Kühnring, Austria

Burgschleinitz, one of the most romantic places in the area, is one of the last water castles in Waldviertel. Situated by an idyllic pond, surrounded by a deep moat, its massive castle wall stands tall. The castle's history dates back to the 11th century when it was the ancestral seat of the Schleunz family, eventually giving rise to the name 'Burgschleinitz.' Over the years, it changed owners frequently, including a brief period under the Habsburgs in the 14th century.

In 1480, the castle was attacked by Hussite troops and completely destroyed in the ensuing battle with the imperial army. A century later, Georg Bayer von Niederdürnbach began its reconstruction, leaving his mark on the second-floor barrel vault. However, he and his brother later committed suicide, leading to the property falling into the hands of Rudolph von Innspruckh. Ownership continued to change due to political unrest and unpaid taxes.

In the early 17th century, during the Thirty Years' War, Burgschleinitz suffered further damage from Bohemian troops. The Kuefstein Counts eventually occupied the castle, only to be succeeded by the Sazenhofen Barons after more than 300 years. Throughout its history, Burgschleinitz has been a source of inspiration for artists, especially writers, including Franz Grillparzer.

In 1974, the castle's moat, running beneath its walls, was refilled to restore its watery character. Today, it is privately owned and cared for by the Eckert family, including the actress Andrea Eckert.

Comments

Your name



Marker
Leaflet © OpenStreetMap contributors

User Reviews

Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Inverness Castle

Inverness Castle sits on a cliff overlooking the River Ness. The red sandstone structure evident today was built in 1836 by architect William Burn. It is built on the site of an 11th-century (c. 1057) defensive structure. Today, it houses Inverness Sheriff Court.

The castle is said to have been built by Máel Coluim III of Scotland, after he had razed to the ground the castle in which Macbeth of Scotland according to much later tradition, murdered Máel Coluim"s father Donnchad I of Scotland, and which stood on a hill around 1 km to the north-east.

The first Inverness Castle was partially destroyed by King Robert I of Scotland and a replacement castle was sacked in the 15th century by the Clan Donald during the Siege of Inverness (1429). The castle was occupied during the Raid on Ross in 1491.

In 1548 another castle with tower was completed by George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly (1514–1562). He was constable of the castle until 1562.