Wolkenstein Castle (Styria)
| Wolkenstein Castle | ||
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| Creation time : | probably 9th century | |
| Castle type : | Hilltop castle | |
| Conservation status: | Castle ruins | |
| Place: | Selva | |
| Geographical location | 47 ° 33 '25 " N , 14 ° 9' 6" E | |
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The Wolkenstein Castle is the ruin of a high medieval hilltop castle in Wörschach in Liezen in Styria , Austria . It stands east over the entrance to the Wörschachklamm ; the castle was the second largest fortified castle in Styria after the Riegersburg and the largest in the Ennstal .
history
It was first mentioned in 1099 in connection with the Ulrich von Wolkenstein family. Presumably there was already a refuge at this point in the 9th century .
When the regional court was moved to Wolkenstein, the fortifications and the place Werses (today Wörschach) developed into the center of the valley.
The core of the complex is the keep on the highest point of the hill, only preserved as a wall . A cistern was later dug in its neighborhood and surrounded by a curtain wall attached to the tower . Between 1050 and 1100, Selva Gardena was enlarged and converted into a ring and border castle to provide enough space for the seat of the regional court. The outer bailey with a drawbridge also dates from this time . The castle gave the political center of today's Liezen district its name, which until 1800 was “Selva District Court”.
In 1524 the castle was pledged to Hanns Hofmann zu Grünbüchel and Strechau (* around 1492; † July 18, 1564 at Strechau Castle), who expanded it and built rondels for the postage of firearms. He was raised to the status of hereditary baron in 1535 , after his death the castle was taken over by his older son Hans Friedrich (* before 1535; † 1589), chief hereditary steward and provincial administrator in Styria. After his death, Wolkenstein became the property of the Admont Abbey . Under Abbot Urban Weber (1599–1659) the castle was neglected and began to deteriorate. In 1630 it was considered "no longer livable" and the district court was relocated.
Selva was partially inhabited until 1750. The roof tax (re) introduced by Emperor Joseph II also contributed to the decline, as a result of which the roofs of many castles were removed. Contemporary representations show that in 1825 all the walls were still standing, in 1850 Selva was already completely dilapidated.
The castle association of Selva Val Gardena, which has around 200 members and is based in Wörschach, tries to make the ruin accessible to visitors again through repair work and clearing.
View from the Wolkenstein castle ruins to Wörschach
Forest near the castle ruins of Selva in autumn
Web links
- Entry via Wolkenstein Castle on Burgen-Austria