Greillenstein Castle

History First mentioned in 1313, a small fortress in Greillenstein was owned by the Greillen family, who disappear from records after this. The first documented mention of the castle itself dates to 1371 when it passed to the Dachpeck family.

In 1534, Baron Johann Lorenz von Kuefstein purchased Greillenstein. His son, Baron Hans Georg III, demolished the old fortress between 1570 and 1590, commissioning an Italian architect to build the current Renaissance castle, completed in 1604.

The castle served as the administrative center for three large estates and as a summer residence for the Protestant Kuefsteins. Despite their faith, they remained loyal to the Emperor, often clashing with the nearby Altenburg Abbey.

During the Thirty Years' War, Hans Jacob von Kuefstein had to vacate the castle when it was occupied by Catholic forces under Elector Maximilian of Bavaria. The castle later briefly served as a Swedish headquarters. Hans Jacob converted to Catholicism in 1623, securing the estate for his family. In the Fifth Coalition War, the castle housed over 1,000 French soldiers in 1809, resulting in severe damage. By 1815, repairs were completed.

The castle lost its administrative role in 1848. In the 19th century, artists like Franz Grillparzer and Anton Romako visited. Both World Wars and the Soviet occupation left the castle unscathed.

In 1959, a museum was established, celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2019. Currently, Andreas Kuefstein and his wife, Elisabeth Kuefstein, own the castle.

Architecture and Interior

Greillenstein Castle is a four-winged complex around a square courtyard with Baroque vases by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. The original interiors remain mostly intact.

The two-story building features a large gate tower and a bridge with Baroque statues. An English landscape garden from the 17th and 18th centuries lies in front of the castle. Between 1700 and 1720, additions included a game park, water features, and a new entrance.

The chapel in the south tower has unique Renaissance furnishings. The grand hall and the Turkish Room with Sultan Murad IV’s portraits are notable features. The castle houses significant historical furniture, artworks, and fireplaces.

The Great Library's furnishings date to the 17th century, with the coffered ceiling now in Laxenburg Castle. The Small Library’s 16th-century furnishings remain intact.

Various outbuildings from the castle’s origin period are partially still in use or in ruins. Nearby, the Kuefstein crypt chapel in Röhrenbach features a fresco by Paul Troger.

Museum and Exhibitions

Since 1534, Greillenstein Castle has been privately owned by the Kuefstein family. It became a museum in the 1960s and was among the first castles open to the public.

In 1967, the Museum of Legal History was founded here but moved in 1988. The castle still houses the original courthouse with medieval records and Austria’s only surviving court barrier.

The castle boasts a significant collection of garden gnomes and a sandstone dragon from around 1700. Permanent exhibits include diplomatic relations between Habsburg Emperors and the Ottoman Empire, and Franz Grillparzer’s visits to the castle.

References:

• Wikipedia

Address

Röhrenbach, Austria

Details

Founded: 1604
Category: Castles and fortifications in Austria