Johannstein Castle

The time of the castle's construction is as unknown as most of its history. For the longest time, it was a princely fief, whose holders were probably not very significant nobles. Nevertheless, in 1136, an Anshalmus de Sparwarspach is mentioned as a witness in the foundation charter of Heiligenkreuz Abbey. At the same time, an Adelhaidis de Sparewarspach is also mentioned. In 1160, a Prunrich de Sparwerspach appears.

Around 1311, Mathilde von Schnepfenstein had left the neighboring castle of the same name and moved to the slightly larger Sparbach Castle. In 1402, the castle belonged to Heinrich the Strong of Sparbach. Duke Albrecht V granted Johann Jöchlinger permission in 1429 to build a new castle on the site of Sparbach-Schnepfenstein. However, it was not the present ruin, but was built on the site of Neu-Sparbach Castle.

Count Ulrich von Cilli bought the lordship in the first half of the 15th century. (Old)-Sparbach was abandoned at the latest after the construction of the new castle and probably finally destroyed by the Turks in 1529. In the 16th century, it belonged to the Thonradl and Jörger families. Due to his involvement in the noble uprising, the entire property of Hans von Jörger was confiscated. Sparbach was sold in 1627 to Jakob Khiessl, Count of Gottschee. In the urbarium drawn up at that time, the name Johannstein was used for the first time.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the owners changed quite frequently. Among them was Heiligenkreuz Abbey, which owned the lordship from 1652 to 1735. Since 1809, the ruin with the entire wildlife park has belonged to the Liechtenstein family. Between 1995 and 2000, a fundamental securing and restoration of the remaining masonry took place.