- Type
- Ruin
- Origins
- 1028 · 11th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Coordinates
- 46.6424°, 13.8969°
History
The castle on a hill north-east of Villach is recorded in the 14th century, when it belonged to leading Carinthian families; after the Counts of Celje died out in 1456 it passed to the Habsburgs. In 1542 it was acquired by Christoph Khevenhüller, who turned the stronghold into a splendid Renaissance residence, one of the finest in Carinthia. The Protestant Khevenhüllers were forced to leave the country during the Counter-Reformation in 1628, and the castle passed to other families. In 1812 a lightning strike set it ablaze and it fell into ruin. In the 20th century part of the ruins was secured and opened to visitors.
What to see
The ruins command a wide view over Villach, Lake Ossiach and the peaks of the Karawanks. A restaurant occupies the restored part of the castle, and in the courtyard eagles, falcons and vultures fly in birds-of-prey shows. The curtain walls, parts of the residential buildings and gateways from the Khevenhüller era survive.
Wikipedia article Wikidata Q700639
Popularity: articles about this site in 16 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).