Karlsbach Castle

Karlsbach was first mentioned in the Babenberg Urbarium in 1160 with Ramunt von Chornespach. In 1254, the brothers Otto and Herandus de Chornespach appeared.

Around 1377, the family with Otto von Kornspach is believed to have died out. However, the castle had already been pledged to the Diocese of Freising in 1282, 1298, and 1381. From 1388, it belonged to Friedrich von Wallsee. Afterwards, it became princely but was almost constantly given as a pledge. Thus, around the middle of the 15th century, the Lords of Eytzing were the pledge holders, followed by Wolfgang Meilesdorfer until 1467. When the next owner, Johann von Plankenstein, died in 1483, Emperor Friedrich III confiscated the dominion. In 1522, Karlsbach came as a fief and three years later as a free property to Gabriel Salamanca Count of Ortenburg.

Around this time, a significant expansion of the fortifications and residential buildings took place. The Ortenburgers pledged the property in 1553 to the Geyer von Osterburg and in 1592 to the Barons von Althan. During the peasant uprising of 1595, the castle was severely devastated. Eustach von Althan finally bought the dominion in 1598. His son of the same name, however, sold it as early as 1604 to Johann Linßmayer. Hans Joachim von Zinzendorf acquired Karlsbach in 1612. From his descendants, it passed in 1685 to Balthasar Count Starhemberg, whose descendants owned the dominion until 1936. Rupert Hatschek converted the farm buildings of the former outer bailey into a well-maintained modern castle between 1950 and 1960. It still belongs to his family.