Prandegg Castle

Prandegg Castle, locally known as Burg Prandegg, lies east of the village of Gutau, in the province of Upper Austria in Austria.

Prandegg Castle was first mentioned in 1287. The ownership of Prandegg was peculiar: one half belonged to the Episcopacy of Regensburg, the other half was a princely fief. In the early 13th century, the Regensburg half came into the possession of the Pranter family. In 1298, the Pranter's half was divided between Haug von Reichenstein and Ulrich von Capellen. Wernhard von Russbach then owned the princely fief. Ulrich and his descendants managed to acquire the princely fief in 1300 and in 1352 the Reichenstein part.

The Von Capellen family then held Prandegg Castle as a single unit until 1406. Then they died out, and it was divided again as a dowry for the last 2 daughters. So through marriage, it came into the possession of the House of Dagsberg and the House of Liechtenstein. In 1492, one-half was given to Hilleprant Jörger, who acquired the other half 2 years later. The Jörgers were apparently quite wealthy, as they bought large tracts of land and rights in the area in the decades that followed. They mainly resided at Zellhof Castle and used Prandegg as their second home or as a place to receive guests.

During the Thirty Years' War, the Jörger family, self-proclaimed Protestants, was forced to sell all their belongings to Gotthard von Scherffenberg, Lord of Spielberg, in 1631. Von Scherffenberg, however, chose to reside in Zellhof Castle rather than Prandegg. Gotthard died soon after, and his widow married Hans Reichard von Starhemberg. He also preferred Zellhof over Prandegg.

Von Starhemberg sold the castle to the Salburger family in 1642. By then, Prandegg Castle had already fallen into decline. Only a brewery and a tavern in the bailey were continued, but later also abandoned.

The ruined castle passed through several hands until 1832, when it was sold to the Dukes of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Their descendants still own the castle.

At present, Prandegg Castle is open during visiting hours. There is a small fee for a guided tour. A great castle ruin in a wooded area.

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