Hornstein Castle

Hornstein Castle was built in 1340 by Stephan Laczkfi to protect the western Hungarian border.

In 1364, the Bishop of Agram, Stephan von Kanizsay, and his brother Johann acquired the castle. In 1440, the castle was pledged to the Austrian dukes. Later, it temporarily fell into the hands of Hunyadi.

In the middle of the 15th century, Czech mercenaries established themselves here. They were expelled in 1463 by Emperor Frederick III. It is possible that the castle was destroyed during this punitive expedition. In any case, a urbar from 1583 already describes it as having been abandoned and desolate many years ago.

After the Treaty of Radkersburg, Frederick III handed over the dominion to Georg von Pottendorf. During the struggles between Frederick III and Matthias Corvinus, Hornstein fell to the Hungarian king, who gifted it to Ulrich von Grafeneck. After the Peace of Pressburg, Hornstein returned to the Emperor in 1491. However, he left it to Grafenecker's son, who sold the dominion in 1506 to Veit Fürst, the administrator of Eisenstadt.

After the extinction of the Fürst family, the Emperor enfeoffed Leonhard Püchler with the extensive property. Afterwards, Hornstein came to Franz Nadásdy after a payment of 140,000 guilders. When he was executed in 1671, the state confiscated his estates and leased them out.

In 1702, the Esterházy family bought the Hornstein dominion, in whose possession it remains to this day.