Plankenwarth Castle

The complex was first documented in 1265. Originally, it was owned by the Lords of Plankenwarth, who served the regional prince as ministeriales. In the 14th century, the related Timmersdorfers and Pranckhs took over the dominion. Around 1430, the castle passed to the Lords of Ungnad, who had it managed by caretakers. In 1532, Andre von Ungnad sold the neglected castle to the Graz merchant Georg Stürgkh. His son Ludwig, after being disinherited, had Ludwigsburg built a little below the main castle. This later served as an outer bailey. In 1699, the estate passed to Johann Georg Graf Saurau and subsequently changed hands several times until it came into the possession of Johann Seifried von Herberstein in 1739.