Stein Castle

The castle belonged to the Archdiocese of Salzburg, which administered its possessions in the lower Lavanttal from here. Between 1193 and 1215, a Gotfrit de Stein is first mentioned.

Towards the end of the 12th century, the Counts of Pettau held the Vogt right. Soon, however, the castle was back in the hands of the Archbishops of Salzburg. In 1273, it was handed over to the Bishop of Lavant. Three years later, Count Heinrich von Pfannberg attacked the castle and largely destroyed it. But in the same year, it returned to the Diocese of Salzburg, which immediately had the damage repaired. During the Styrian noble uprising against Duke Albrecht I, the castle was captured by the imperial field captain Ulrich Kapeller in 1289.

After the peace treaty, it was returned to the diocese. This granted it in 1293 to Rudolf von Fohnsdorf. Thereafter, mostly administrators were appointed. In 1437, a fire destroyed large parts of the castle, but it was rebuilt by 1444. In 1480, Leonhard II von Kollnitz conquered it on behalf of Emperor Friedrich III, causing severe damage again. In 1497, Prince-Archbishop Leonhard von Keutschach had it fortified anew.

In the 18th century, the castle began to decay. Stein remained with the Prince-Archdiocese until the secularization of Salzburg and then became state property. The administration was taken over by the Chamberal Lordship of St. Andrä. Finally, the ruin came into private ownership, first to the Rosthorn brothers and then to August Theodor Schütte. He was followed by Dipl. Ing. Hellwig Habsburg-Lothringen. For a long time, it has been back in civilian ownership. The last owner restored the complex towards the end of the 20th century and made it habitable again.