Grub Castle

Grub Castle, locally known as Burg Grub, lies in the hamlet of the same name, west of the city of Horn in the province of Lower Austria in Austria.

A Pilgrimus de Grueb was first mentioned in a document dating back to 1237. So Grub Castle was probably built somewhere in the late 12th or early 13th century.

In 1372 the castle was owned by the Truchsess family when it was sieged for 4 weeks by Duke Albert. The chapel in the castle was first mentioned in 1429. When the Truchsess von Grub family were ennobled in 1464/65 the castle had passed to the Matschach family; a family of knights from the Austrian province of Styria.

In 1525 the castle was owned by the Rauber family. During the 16th century they also owned Dobra Castle and Krumau Castle. The castle passed to the Auerberg family through inheritance in 1572. And in 1593 went to the Protestant Puchheim family.

In 1620 the castle was destroyed by the Bavarian Duke Maximilian I. The castle never recovered and fell to ruin. In 1621 the fief went to the Traun family and in 1668 to the Selb family. The Altenburg abbey bought the castle domain in 1767.

In 1950 the castle came into private hands. There were plans to use the castle ruins as a quarry but this was prevented. In 1970 the castle was bought by Franz Josef and Maria Magdalena Hampapa, a 56-year-old couple that had the dream to completely restore the castle. They carried out extensive restoration works. Franz Josef Hampapa died in 2006; his wife was already dead. I don't know who will be the new owner of the castle.

A very nice castle ruin in a quiet village. When I visited it was closed. When the Hampapa's were still alive the castle could be visited during the summer. But at present I don't know. It can not be reached by car.

Gallery