Rothenfels Castle

The origins of Rothenfels Castle date back a long way. The Wölz Valley, where the castle is located, was owned by the Prince-Bishopric of Freising from 1007 to 1803, which also influenced the Moor in the coat of arms of the town of Oberwölz. In 1007, King Henry II gifted the estates of Welz and Lind to Bishop Egilbert of Freising. The castle was likely built as an administrative center for the jurisdiction of the entire Wölz Valley and surrounding areas. Initially, it probably consisted only of a tower, supplemented by residential and commercial buildings. Burgraves from Freising noble families, who called themselves “von Welz,” administered the castle, with Heinrich being the first documented in 1140. The name Rothenfels only became common later. In the 14th century, the complex was expanded, including the enlargement of St. Catherine's Chapel. After 1413, the castle changed hands several times and was involved in conflicts before being managed again by Freising administrators from 1425. In the 17th century, economic difficulties led to its mortgaging, before the lordship was expanded in 1656 by acquiring the regional court of Frauenburg. After the abolition of ecclesiastical rule in 1803, Rothenfels passed to the state and changed private owners several times in the following decades until it was acquired by Maria Steiner in 1965, whose family privately maintains the castle to this day.

Rothenfels Castle is located at an elevation of approx. 927 m above sea level, east of the town of Oberwölz in the Murau district, Styria, Austria.

Today, Rothenfels Castle is privately owned and houses holiday apartments. The complex is well-preserved and bears witness to its long history. Visitors can explore the medieval substance, supplemented by later additions and historicizing elements from the 19th century. Particularly noteworthy are St. Catherine's Chapel, built in the 14th century with uncovered ceiling paintings and apostles' crosses, and the court room with a remarkable stucco ceiling from the 18th century, which underlines the castle's importance as the official seat of a regional court.

• Mainhartsdorf Castle (Schloss), approx. 3.4 km away
• Raiming Manor House (Herren- und Gutshaus), approx. 5.2 km away
• Pachern Manor Castle (Schloss), approx. 5.8 km away
• Katsch Castle Ruin (Burg), approx. 6.1 km away