Emmerberg Castle

Emmerberg Castle was probably built around the middle of the 12th century. In 1170, Emmerberg is first mentioned in a document with Durinch de Emberberch. During the Babenberg era, the Emmerbergers were among the most important families in the country.

The Emmerbergers died out in 1455, but Ludwig von Eckartsau had already been enfeoffed with the castle by Duke Albrecht III in 1384. After that, the owners changed quite frequently. Among others, the Wolfenreut (around 1430), Teufel, Brassican, Spaur (around 1500), Heussenstein (from 1706) and Vincenz von Suttner (1805) appear as feudal lords. The destruction of the castle was initiated in 1760 by Count Heinrich von Heussenstein.

For tax reasons, he had the oak roof truss removed and sold. One of the subsequent owners, Alexander Wilhelm Graf Wartensleben, used the walls as a quarry in 1821 to build a stud farm at the foot of the castle hill. The surrounding farmers also got building material here. Count Wartensleben soon had to declare bankruptcy. In 1833, Archduke Rainer, Viceroy of Lombardy-Venetia, acquired the estate from the estate. The ruin and the surrounding forests are still owned by his descendants today.