Grünfels Castle

Grünfels was first mentioned in 1366. At that time, it was referred to as a "purg" (castle) and was part of Murau's city fortifications. It is presumed that Otto II von Liechtenstein had the castle built at the beginning of the 14th century to protect the new district he had established on the south bank of the Mur. The castle was a Liechtenstein fief and was administered separately from Murau.

In 1487, the Hungarians, who had invaded Styria, occupied the castle, but they were driven out three years later by imperial forces. In 1494, Niklas von Liechtenstein regained possession of the complex. Unlike Obermurau Castle, Gruvenvels was referred to as the Old Castle in 1500. The administrators appointed after 1515 mostly belonged to the Aspach, Hammerl, and Fletzer families.

From 1520, Grünfels was administered from Murau. When Grünfels finally lost its defensive function at the beginning of the 17th century, the residential buildings were expanded, and the castle path was converted into a Way of the Cross in 1686. The current owner, as with Obermurau, is Karl Johannes Prince Schwarzenberg. The small castle is uninhabited today but still relatively well preserved.