Eppenstein Castle

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Eppenstein Castle
Eppenstein ruins

Eppenstein ruins

Alternative name (s): Alt-Eppenstein
Creation time : around 1000
Castle type : Hilltop castle
Conservation status: ruin
Standing position : Dukes
Place: Eppenstein
Geographical location 47 ° 7 ′ 51 ″  N , 14 ° 44 ′ 10 ″  E Coordinates: 47 ° 7 ′ 51 ″  N , 14 ° 44 ′ 10 ″  E
Height: 736  m above sea level A.
Eppenstein Castle (Styria)
Eppenstein Castle

The castle Eppenstein later, Alt-Eppenstein called, is a medieval castle ruins above the village Eppenstein in the Western Upper Styria . The area belongs to the Murtal district .

Geographical location

The former hilltop castle is located directly above the village of Eppenstein on a steep rock spur at an altitude of around 736  m above sea level. A. In the Middle Ages, below the castle - in the narrow Granitzental - an important north-south trade route led over the Obdacher Sattel .

history

Burg Eppenstein 1160 owned by the aristocratic family of Traungauer first documented as castrum Eppenstein mentioned. However, it probably goes back to a wooden castle built in the 10th century. Whether the Margraves of Eppenstein named themselves after this castle (cf. Eppensteiner ) is not exactly certain, there was still a castle to the west of Alt-Eppenstein Castle, which was built in wood and earth. The family died out as early as 1122 and the castle came into the possession of the Wildonian family . When they took part in a conspiracy against the Bohemian King Ottokar , the castle was expropriated and occupied by followers of the king, who ruled parts of Austria during the interregnum .

After Ottokar's defeat against Habsburg in the Battle of Marchfeld in 1278, the Wildoni succeeded in reoccupying the castle. Ottokar's followers who remained at the castle were all killed, but the castle soon fell into other hands: The Carinthian dukes , the families of Colledo , Nádasdy , Pranckh , Sessler , Graben and others followed as lords of the castle . In 1478 the castle was extensively rebuilt in the Gothic style, but changed hands more often. Among other things, it was captured by a Hungarian army. The castle was actually considered impregnable and only fell through treason.

After a devastating fire and an earthquake in 1570, the castle was rebuilt, but became obsolete with the construction of Neu-Eppenstein Castle . In 1583 it was described as dilapidated. At the beginning of the 17th century the ruins were no longer inhabited and fell into disrepair until they were in the state they are today. The Eppenstein Castle Association is currently trying to renovate and restore the ruins.

investment

The castle is designed as a hill and ring castle . The keep stood centrally on the highest point of the rock. Since it was a hilltop castle, it was not necessary to create an additional moth . The keep was surrounded by a pentagonal curtain wall. The massive gatehouse was secured by a moat that could be crossed by a drawbridge . The gate castle and the Pallas with keep were the most massive defensive structures of the castle. The curtain wall primarily protected the outbuildings existing within the castle. There were also two in the Gothic period bastions built, the artillery should include. Access to the castle is only possible through a narrow path. Hence the assumption at the time that the castle was impregnable.

literature

  • Otto Piper, Wilhelm Deuer (ed.): The castles of Styria . Edition Winkler-Hermaden, Schleinbach 2015, ISBN 978-3-9503739-8-1 , pp. 15-22. (Reprinted by Otto Piper: Austrian Castles. )
  • Werner Murgg: Castle ruins in Styria. (= Find reports from Austria, material booklets. Series B, Volume 2). Verlag Ferdinant Berger and Sons, Vienna 2009, OCLC 800446838 , pp. 80-82.
  • Georg Clam Martinic: Castles & Palaces in Austria - From Vorarlberg to Burgenland. Tosa Verlag, Vienna 1998, ISBN 3-85001-679-1 , pp. 307-308.
  • Georg Clam Martinic: Austrian Castle Lexicon . Niederösterreichisches Pressehaus, Linz 1991, ISBN 3-902397-50-0 , pp. 307-308.
  • Otto Piper: Austrian castles 1 . Vienna 1902, pp. 79–86. (Digitized by Austrian Literature Online , there pp. 89–96)

Web links

Commons : Burgruine Eppenstein  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files