Hartenstein Castle

The origins of the Hartenstein dominion and the construction of a residence are not fully clear. It is presumed that Heinricus de Hertinsteine, mentioned in documents in 1187 and possibly a descendant of the Kuenringer family, had the castle built. Hartenstein changed hands multiple times. Early owners included the Lords of Kaja and Kamegg, who held the castle until 1270. It then passed to the brothers Hertnit and Leutold von Stadekke. In 1300, Heinrich von Wallsee acquired the complex. The Wallsee family, who often succeeded the Kuenringers in the Waldviertel, owned numerous estates and had Hartenstein administered by burgraves. After the Wallsee family relinquished some of their possessions in the Waldviertel in the second half of the 14th century, Hartenstein came into the possession of the Lords of Maissau from 1380 to 1411. Further changes of ownership followed, including Christoph von Rappach (1416) and the brothers Hans and Leopold von Neidegg (from 1430). In 1445, Jörg Scheck vom Walde bought the castle. In the second half of the 17th century, the castle increasingly fell into disrepair as the lords preferred more comfortable residences.