Losenstein Castle rises above the village of Losenstein on a 60-metre rock, composed of dolomite. It is one of the largest and oldest ruins of Upper Austria. Built in the 12th century by the Styrian Ottokars, the castle consists of the main building and one major ancillary tower. Beginning in 1252 the Lords of Losenstein owned the castle.
The castle offers views of the village of Losenstein, the river Enns, and the foothills in the direction of Styria. The castle ruins are freely accessible.
The original structure of the castle is still visible. Exterior walls, gothic windows and large arches are still visible. The individual areas such as church, living area, patio and economic activity are precisely delineated.
The Styrian Ottakars built this castle around 1150 to protect themselves from invading troops in the Steiermark. In 1170 the castle was first documented. In 1252 it passed to Dietmar of Steyr, who received it from King Ottokar II of Bohemia in exchange for the city of Steyr. From that point on, the family of Dietmar and his descendants were known as the Lords of Losenstein and owned the castle continuously until their extinction in 1692. The graves of the family of Losenstein are located in Garsten Abbey (Losenstein Chapel). After that the line passed by inheritance to the family of von Auersperg, who eventually sold the castle in 1905 to the province of Upper Austria.
References:Stobi was an ancient town of Paeonia located near Gradsko. It is considered by many to be the most famous archaeological site in North Macedonia. Stobi was built where the Erigon (Crna River) joins the Axios (Vardar), making it strategically important as a center for both trade and warfare.
Stobi developed from a Paeonian settlement established in the Archaic period. It is believed that in 217 BCE, Philip V annexed Paionia during his campaign against the Dardani who had entered Bylazora, the largest Paeonian town.
The city was first mentioned in writing by the historian Livy, in connection with a victory of Philip V of Macedon over the Dardani in 197 BC. In 168 BC, the Romans defeated Perseus and Macedonia was divided into four nominally independent republics. In 148 BC, the four areas of Macedonia were brought together in a unified Roman province. In the reign of Augustus the city grew in size and population.