Gars Castle

Gars is one of the oldest castle complexes in Austria. It was built in the 11th century by Margrave Adalbert of Babenberg. His grandson, Margrave Leopold II, had it expanded to be defensible and habitable.

As early as 1114, an Erchenbert appears as Gorzensis castellanus, administrator of the princely castle. In 1367, the castellans of Gars died out. During their time, the second ring wall with two towers and the mighty octagonal keep was built. In 1373, Gars came to Heidenreich von Maissau. The Maissauers remained owners of the dominion until 1430. After that, it was mostly given as collateral by the regional princes. Among the pledge lords were the families Fronauer, Eytzing, Lamberg, Neidegg, and Teufel.

Georg Teufel had major renovations and extensions carried out in 1548/49 and 1576. This resulted in the large Renaissance castle and the gate complex. In 1622, Vinzenz Muschinger received the dominion as a free property. Between 1667 and 1701, it belonged to the Barons of Oppel. Afterwards, it came into the possession of Count Leopold Ferdinand Anton von Rottal. The next owners were the Barons of Rumel, Heinrich von Wallhorn, and the Counts Fuchs, but the slow decay of the castle, which had long been militarily worthless, had already begun.

Fires caused great damage in 1742, 1781, and 1809. In 1829, Gars came to the Croy family, with whom it remained until 1966. The ruin now belongs to the market town of Gars, which acquired it from the last private owner, Dkfm. Fritz Bogner.