Klagenfurt Castle

In 1586, the Protestant estates, who were then the rulers of Klagenfurt, began the construction of the castle. The plans were by Johann Anton Verda, who also played a role in the Landhaus. The building was originally intended for the “Collegium sapientiae et pietatis,” a Protestant noble school whose reputation extended beyond the provincial borders and was even compared to the University of Bologna. It had its own observatory and a labyrinth in the garden. After the Counter-Reformation, the castle served as the residence of the Burgrave from 1604 to 1747. A castle chapel was added in 1733/34, extending the building's structure. Between 1773 and 1774, it was raised to three stories, with the facade unified by pilasters and stuccoed window pediments. In 1854, a stairwell tower was added in the arcaded courtyard.