Kammerstein Castle

The castle ruin Kammerstein is a castle in the border area of the municipalities of Perchtoldsdorf and Kaltenleutgeben in the district of Mödling in Lower Austria. The remains of the castle stand south of the Dürre Liesing valley at an altitude of 420 m above sea level.

The original name Chemerstain probably does not come from a noble family but from the title of the builder Otto II of Perchtoldsdorf as Chamberlain of Austria. Another interpretation derives the name from the fact that the castle was built on chamber property, which originated from a donation in 1002.

The castle was built around 1240/50 as a hilltop castle by Otto II, after Perchtoldsdorf Castle was burned down under Otto I during the noble uprisings. However, Otto II was able to regain the favor of Frederick II.

The location of the castle must also be seen against the background that at this time the emperor- and duke-less period of the Interregnum began after Frederick's death, and thus uncertain times.

Under Rudolf I of Habsburg, however, the fiefs were re-granted. The Austrian nobility, however, rebelled against Albrecht I, Rudolf's son. Otto II died in Lilienfeld and was buried in the Lilienfeld Abbey there. His son Otto III also participated in the uprisings. After the renewed destruction of the main castle in Perchtoldsdorf, Otto retreated to Kammerstein Castle. Only through a trick, after which Otto III is said to have been lured to Vienna and the castle was leaderless, could it be conquered. Otto is said to have seen the burning castle from Vienna. Subsequently, he is said to have been imprisoned until the end of his life.