Eggenburg Castle

Eggenburg Castle is first mentioned in 1126, but it likely originated in the 1080s. The Lords of Eggenburg were ministeriales of the Babenbergs and probably descended from the Kuenrings. The first lord of the castle known by name was Wolfker von Eggenburg, who appears in documents around 1140.

By 1204, the castle was already an important part of the newly built city castle. In 1328, Eggenburg was conquered by John of Bohemia. After it had returned to princely rule, Duke Albert II briefly pledged it in 1357 to Emperor Charles IV or his brother John of Moravia. Thereafter, the lordship was usually assigned to administrators.

In the 15th century, the town and castle were repeatedly threatened and occasionally occupied by Bohemian and Hungarian troops. For example, Eggenburg was besieged by Matthias Corvinus in 1486 and finally forced to surrender. As the Turkish threat became increasingly menacing at the beginning of the 16th century, the fortifications were modernized around 1510. Especially the Barons of Rogendorf, to whom Eggenburg was given as a pledge, had the already dilapidated castle largely renovated and enlarged around 1527.

Emperor Ferdinand I sold the lordship in 1556 to Leonhard Pichler von Weitenegg. From 1565 to 1594, it belonged to Ferdinand von Meggau. In 1623, it was sold to the Jesuit Order. In 1742, it was already described as a "disgrace and danger to the city." Ten years later, the Jesuits sold the complex to the city of Eggenburg. Two years later, the city passed it on to Altenburg Abbey. In 1808, the devastating city fire also spread to the castle, completely turning it into a ruin. In 1878, the Seitz family acquired the area. They built a new residence and had the keep restored. The castle is still in family ownership today.