Maria-Loretto Castle

The castle built in the 18th century on the Maria Loretto peninsula. The tower visible in front is a remnant of the original structure.

Frontal view of the decaying castle building in autumn 2005

West view after the renovation

The Castle Maria Loretto is located in the eastern bay of Lake Wörth on the peninsula Maria Loretto, next to the mouth of the Lendkanal . After the castle had been owned by the Orsini-Rosenberg family since it was built, the city of Klagenfurt acquired it at the end of 2002. The building and park were renovated in 2007 and made accessible to the public. A private company operates an event center here for festive occasions.

Right next to the castle is a public seaside swimming pool, which used to be part of the castle park, as well as a restaurant in the castle's former farm building. Around 1840 an avenue led from today's campsite over the castle park to the shore of the Wörthersee.

history

In 1650 Johann Andreas von Rosenberg acquired the peninsula and in 1652 had a large castle built with a crown of free-standing towers and magnificent portals. In 1708, a fire destroyed most of this complex, only the remains of free-standing towers have been preserved. A tower still stands on the grounds of the seaside resort today. The building erected afterwards is much simpler. The splendid bridges have also disappeared, because the island was turned into a peninsula by backfill and siltation. The detailed history of the peninsula, recorded in three handwritten volumes by the respective castle owners, is in the possession of a previous owner and co-owner of the castle.

architecture

The castle visible today is a building from the 18th century, which is a massive but simple building with an almost square floor plan. The Maria Loretto Chapel, originally completed in 1660 and renovated after a fire in 1768, stands on the massive retaining walls facing the Lend Canal. The location of the castle on the protruding peninsula offers an excellent view over the Wörthersee.