Falkenstein Castle

Falkenstein Castle, locally known as Burg Falkenstein, lies north of the village of the same name, in the province of Lower Austria in Austria.

Falkenstein Castle was founded around 1050 under Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor, as a frontier castle to protect the lands of the House of Babenberg against enemies from the north. It was built upon an 80-meter-high limestone cliff. It was the site of a much older earthen fort.

The first lords of Falkenstein were ministerials and vassals of the House of Babenberg. The first Lord of Falkenstein was mentioned in 1118, Ulrich von Falkenstein. In 1177, the last real Lord of Falkenstein was mentioned: Wernhart II von Falkenstein. Then, both his daughters married two brothers from the Streun von Schwarzenau family, and they took over the fief of Falkenstein and began calling themselves 'of Falkenstein'.

In 1296, Friedrich II von Liechtenstein was the holder of the fief. He had to flee after having supported a failed rebellion against Duke Albrecht I. The castle was confiscated and from then on became a pledge property. Between 1369 and 1395, the castle was enlarged and strengthened.

In 1538, a group of some 150 Hutterites were imprisoned for some time in the castle's dungeons before being transferred to Trieste in Italy to be sold there as galley slaves.

Frankenstein Castle was sold, in 1572, by Emperor Maximilian II to Hans III, Baron of Trautson. In 1598, his son, Paul Sixtus III, was elevated to the rank of Imperial Count. He then began rebuilding the castle into a Renaissance fortress.

In 1645, during the Thirty Years' War, the castle was damaged during a Swedish siege led by the Swedish Field Marshal Lennart Torstensson. It was taken but not demolished afterward. The Swedes occupied the castle for 15 months before they were expelled after a siege by the Habsburg Imperial Army. After that, the castle was garrisoned shortly, and the damaged parts were provisionally repaired. That way, it could still serve as a place of refuge for locals during the threat of marauding Turkish and Kuruc troops in the 2nd half of the 17th century.

Shortly after that, Falkenstein Castle lost its military importance. Its owners began using it as a stone quarry for locals. This lasted until 1830. During that time and up until 1850, the castle ruin was sold and resold several times until it was purchased by the forefathers of the present owners. In 1990, they opened up the castle for visitors.

Today, Falkenstein Castle can be visited for a fee during the summer months. A very nice castle ruin.

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