Finstergrün Castle
| Finstergrün Castle | ||
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 Finstergrün Castle seen from the sports field |
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| Alternative name (s): | Hous ze Ramungestein, Veste Ramingstein, ancient castle Finstergruen | |
| Creation time : | around 1100 to 1200 (Old Castle) ; 1908 (New Castle) |
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| Castle type : | Rock castle | |
| Conservation status: | Ruin (old castle) ; Modern youth castle (Neue Burg) |
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| Place: | Ramingstein | |
| Geographical location | 47 ° 4 '26 " N , 13 ° 50' 35" E | |
| Height: | 1085 m above sea level A. | |
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The castle Finstergrün is a children's and youth center and at the same hostel . It is the landmark of the Salzburg community of Ramingstein , near Tamsweg , in Lungau and belongs to the Protestant Youth Austria (EJÖ) .
location
The youth castle , at the same time the symbol of the community Ramingstein , stands on a steeply rising rock nose south above the at 970 m above sea level. A. located place Ramingstein. The rock castle itself is 1085 m above sea level. A. From the strategically located hilltop of the castle you have a wide view, so that there are visual connections to other castles as well as to the surrounding area. An important traffic connection and a toll station could be monitored from here.
history
12th Century
A closer look reveals that Finstergrün Castle today consists of two castles. The old castle is only preserved as a ruin. Its origin is believed to be in the 12th century and it was built as a hilltop castle and border fortification at a strategically important point. The new castle, which was largely completed around 1908, is attached to the old castle. However, it looks very much like a historical castle, as it was built in the style of the 13th century and both parts of the castle join together to form a harmonious whole.
In the case of many castles, the exact time of construction is difficult to determine from written sources. The old Finstergrün Castle was first mentioned in a document (secured) in 1300. However, there are older documents from around 1138 that name one Wilhelm von Ramenstein - the assignment of the same to Ramingstein in Lungau is historically uncertain, as other similar-sounding places could also be meant.
In the course of the war between Archbishops Rudolf von Hohenegg and Konrad von Fohnsdorf against Duke Albrecht I of Austria , the castle seems to have come into the possession of Rudolf von Fohnsdorf, the brother of Archbishop Konrad. The archbishop later redeemed the castle for himself. 1324 compensated Archbishop Friedrich III. brothers and Ulrich Heinrich von Weißoriach for the losses in the Archbishop service damage and captivity with the fortress Ramingstein and Burghut there itself. After that the castle was administered by archbishop caretakers . 1429 to 1557 this office was exercised by members of the Moosham family . Later keepers were the lords of Kuenburg , who received money from the prince-archbishop's court chamber between 1558 and 1779 to maintain the castle and the Ramingstein bridge.
17th century
In the Middle Ages, today's Finstergrün Castle still had names such as "Hous ze Ramungestain in dem Lungew" or "Veste Ramingstein". The name "Finstergrün" did not appear until the 17th century, back then as "ancient Schlössl Finstergruen". At that time the castle was already in serious disrepair. The name "Finstergrün" was not derived from the color green, but from "finstre Gruam" (dark ditch). This name is likely to refer to the dark chasm next to the castle, which was even more clearly visible before the new castle was built.
In 1672, after an on-site inspection, the castle was bequeathed with wood by the court architect Johann Paul Wasner so that the loose Leuth could no longer stay in it . In 1735 the high ducal hut clerk requested the renovation of the so-called Schlössl Hintergrien , which had been assigned to him as an apartment. Since the repair costs seemed too high, a sale was considered, but this failed due to the objection of the mine administration, since the tower of the castle was in use as a grain box. In 1775 the ancient Schlössl Fünstergruen, including the stables, then ain Gründtl and Mädl there was offered for auction. The only bidder was the princely miner Josef Ruef, who had previously lived in the castle as a tenant. He was followed in 1796 by his son Georg and in 1837 by his son of the same name, in 1848 his widow Maria, née Tafner, in 1849 Eva Maria Kerschhackl, in 1865 her brother Josef Kerschhackl and in 1894 Elisabeth Lerchner.
In 1841 a forest fire ravaged Ramingstein. Not only did he cause severe damage in the village, all the wooden parts of the "Feste Finstergruen" were also burned, turning them into ruins.
From 1900
In 1899 the Hungarian kuk chamberlain and cavalry master Sándor Count Szápáry , of whom a painting still hangs in the knight's hall , bought the ruined and burned-out ruins. In 1901 he had a new building in the style of the 13th century - using the same materials as then - added to the ruins. The tower was completed in 1903. After the unexpected death of Count Szápáry in 1904, his wife, Countess Margit Szápáry and née Countess Henckel von Donnersmarck , continued building the castle. Around 1908 the castle complex had its present appearance. Inside, however, the castle was not yet complete and was never completed due to the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. Until then, "the Countess" had collected a large part of the valuable historical interior furnishings from all over Central Europe.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s Margit Countess Szápáry accommodated many (paying) guests, including the later Federal Chancellors Rudolf Ramek and Kurt Schuschnigg . The accommodation at Finstergrün Castle was a sensation, especially in Anglo-Saxon countries. Spooky stories about castle ghosts are already being told from this time, reinforced by the appropriate lighting with torches and lanterns, because the castle was not yet electrified at that time.
In the same decade, however, the owner also struggled with great financial difficulties. The outbreak of the Second World War made the situation worse, so that a large part of the valuable inventory in Munich had to be auctioned. In 1942 the castle came to the Nazi Reich Ministry for Science, Education and National Education through a lease and rental agreement, which ran courses for teachers there, among other things. It is assumed that the lease and rental agreement was "concluded" without the Countess' consent. In 1943 Margit Countess Szápáry died - weakened by a long illness - in the Prem house near the castle. Their political and social work had a lasting impact on the region.
In 1945, at the end of the Second World War, the castle may have served as a hospital for a short time. In the same year Finstergrün Castle passed to the Countess' two children, Béla and Jolántha.
From 1946
From 1946 to 1949 the scouts and from 1949 the Evangelical Youth Organization in Austria leased parts of the castle. In the following years there were children and youth camps, but also seminars for adults and other events. In 1972 the Protestant Youth Austria finally acquired the castle.
A lot has been built in the castle area since 1949, but increasingly since 1972. The area next to the castle was leveled to create opportunities for sports, games, campfires and the like. A new driveway to the castle was also built. In addition, the castle was electrified, supplied with running and hot water and provided with toilet facilities. In 1981 the "Finsterling", the good spirit of Finstergrün Castle, was created as a mascot and logo.
In 1986 the tower roof burned down. Thanks to a fire alarm system and a rapid fire service, there was no major damage. The tower roof has now been renewed.
From 1989
In autumn 1989 the "Burgrat" was founded and specially commissioned by the EJÖ with the administration of the Finstergrün Castle. The castle remained in the possession of and under the care of the EJÖ, but the leaner and more efficient administration made it easier to plan, budget and implement changes. As a result, there were various renovations, especially the expansion and conversion of rooms.
After two years of planning and eight months of construction, a modern wood chip heating system was put into operation in May 2001 , with which not only 4000 liters of hot water could be prepared, but 15 rooms could also be centrally heated. Up until 2005, this heating system was expanded to such an extent that ultimately all rooms of the castle except for the tower are connected. In 2001 the “Wood instead of steel” campaign began, with the aim of replacing all of the old metal beds in the castle with new wooden beds. After four years and a considerable number of donations and volunteers, the project was completed on April 16, 2005.
In 2002 the knight's armor "Egon Margrave von Murausch" moved into the castle. The chiselled plate armor in the style of the 15th century from a workshop in Milan has since adorned the knight's hall well-lit.
If you want to get married at Finstergrün Castle, you can do so in the chapel or in the knight's hall, not only in church, but since 2004 also as a civil registry office - the castle officially became a branch of the Ramingstein registry office. The ORF / ZDF church service “Peace means dare to set out” in the anniversary year “70 Years of Evangelical Youth” was broadcast on television in Germany and Austria in September 2004. The media presence of the castle had already increased significantly in the previous years due to various film and television shootings. In the same year, the wooden staircase, adapted to the surroundings, between the second castle courtyard - which was renamed “Leopold-Hof” at the castle festival in 2004 - and the ruin was completed.
The annual castle festivals on a weekend in September represent the highlight of today's castle life and are a meeting place for many castle friends. The professional bar in the Jolantha room, which was set up in 2005, is open for these and other occasions. A few weeks after this festival, the castle year ends. During the winter rest, the voluntary and full-time helpers carry out various repair, maintenance and planning work and prepare the castle for the next season.
In the winter of 2006/2007, major renovation work was tackled again: the side section in the passage between the first courtyard and the Leopoldhof was converted into an exhibition space. The exhibition " Margit Szápáry : The Countess of Lungau" was on view there in 2007 and 2008. A passage was also created between the Naschkammer and the crypt. A new barrier-free toilet in the Leopoldhof and extensive waste separation in a newly built shed at the rear of the castle that meets the requirements of the monument protection are more recent additions to the historical complex.
Location
In the mid-1970s, Finstergrün Castle was the scene of an episode of the Kim & Co series (Episode 24: Have you ever had a silver look? ), But Rauenstein Castle was named there. The hostel father and "castle guide" was played by Adrian Hoven . Between 2007 and 2012 the castle was the setting for four fairy tale films in the German - Austrian film series Märchenperlen by ZDF: 2007 Rumpelstiltskin , 2008 Sleeping Beauty , 2011 Der Eisenhans and 2012 Beauty and the Beast . In addition, in 2006 the episode Knights and Castles of the DVD series Was ist was mostly filmed in the castle.
literature
- Helga Kostka: Chronicle of a castle in Lungau: "hous ze Ramungestein" once - "Finstergrün Castle" today . Graz 1998.
- Anja Thaller: Finstergrün Castle - From the border castle to the youth castle . In: Christian Blinzer (Ed.): Constantly Moving : Margit Countess Szápáry (1871–1943) . Tamsweg 2007.
- Friederike Zaisberger & Walter Schlegel : Castles and palaces in Salzburg. Pongau, Pinzgau, Lungau . Birch series, Vienna 1978, ISBN 3-85030-037-4 .
Web links
- Finstergrün Castle
- Castle ruins Edenvest on ruins empire
- Entry via Finstergrün on Burgen-Austria
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