Losenstein Castle
| Losenstein Castle | ||
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 Interior view of the Losenstein castle ruins |
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| Creation time : | 12th Century | |
| Castle type : | Hilltop castle | |
| Conservation status: | ruin | |
| Place: | Losenstein | |
| Geographical location | 47 ° 55 '26.4 " N , 14 ° 26' 15.6" E | |
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The castle of losenstein is ruin a Höhenburg in loose stone ( Upper Austria ) and rises above the place on a 60 m high dolomite rocks (castle rock). It is one of the largest and oldest castle ruins in Upper Austria. The castle, built in the 12th century by the Styrian Ottokaren , consists of a stronghold and a slightly lower bailey . From 1252 the lords von und zu Losenstein (Losensteiner) owned the castle.
The castle ruins offer a wonderful view of Losenstein, the Ennstal , the Enns and the pre-Alps towards Styria . The Losenstein ruins are freely accessible.
Most of the castle still consists of the outer walls, but Gothic window openings, loopholes and large archways are still clearly visible. The individual rooms such as the church, living area, courtyard and utility rooms can also be precisely defined.
Historical classification
The Styrian Otakars built this castle around 1150 to protect against troops invading Styria. The castle was first mentioned in 1170 and went to Dietmar von Steyr in 1252 , who received it from the Bohemian King Ottokar II Přemysl in exchange for the city of Steyr. From this point on, Dietmar and his descendants called themselves Herren von Losenstein . They owned the castle continuously until it died out in 1692. Some of the tombs for the Lords of Losenstein can be found in the Garsten Abbey (Losenstein Chapel). Thereafter, the complex was inherited by the von Auersperg family , who finally sold the castle to the state of Upper Austria in 1905.
Construction of the castle
The castle complex was built around 1150. According to a document from 1252, the primary goal of the castle was to protect the access to the interior of Styria together with Klaus Castle in the Steyrtal. The elevated position above the center of Losenstein enables a view of large parts of the Enns.
Building the castle
The castle complex is made up of two structures: the main castle (2,200 m²) and to the west of it, at a distance of around 45 m, a 400 m² outer castle. The original path led from the Meierhof (today Gasthof Zur Burgruine ) to the left, diagonally up the slope and in a bend to the main gate on the southeast side. Back then, the slopes were not wooded as they are today, but rather bare so that enemies could not find shelter.
The Palas is probably the oldest part of the castle. The ground floor is built on rock and is accessible from the castle courtyard through a gate. The masonry made of limestone, which has been left to decay for about 300 years without a roof, is remarkable, but is relatively well preserved. The various loose varieties of the late Romanesque (with regard to the design of the window arches) already suggest the new, the Gothic . The transition between the two medieval architectural styles that can be seen here also makes Losenstein Castle particularly interesting in terms of art history.
The outer bailey in Losenstein probably dates from the first half of the 14th century and should u. a. prevent besiegers from attaching themselves to this flatter stretch. There was almost certainly no connection between the outer and main castle. A ravine is said to have separated the two parts, which in turn would be a rarity in the history of castle construction.
The keep was visible from afar as a distinctive feature. You had to climb a ladder five to six meters from the west side to the entrance. Today's door opening was added later. The lower part also served as a castle dungeon, hence the colloquial name Hunger Tower .
Current usage
The Losenstein castle ruins were the venue for plays on various occasions (e.g. the Losenstein castle play group). It is a popular place for guided tours for school classes and those interested in history and is now home to the Burgfelsen climbing area. Preserving the historical buildings and maintaining the opportunity for various leisure activities on this unique cultural monument has the highest priority. Child-friendly signage allows those interested from near and far to experience the historical and cultural significance of the Losenstein castle ruins.
Web links
- Entry via Losenstein to Burgen-Austria
- Entry on Losenstein Castle in the Austria Forum
- Official Losenstein Castle Ruins website
Individual evidence
- ↑ burglosenstein Losensteiner Kapelle , accessed on July 15, 2014.