Mödling Castle

In 1137, there is already mention of a castellanus, who presumably already resided on the hill above the city. From the middle of the 12th century, the Kuenringer family provided the castellans. Mödling was first a fief of the Diocese of Eichstätt and then of Melk Abbey until it passed to the Babenbergs. They are considered the builders of the castle.

From 1177, a collateral line of the Babenbergs lived in Mödling. Under Heinrich, who was also called Dux de Medelich, Mödling Castle experienced its heyday. After the extinction of this collateral line, Mödling fell back to the main line represented by Duke Frederick II in 1236. Duke Albrecht IV of Habsburg pledged the castle to the Diocese of Passau. Thereafter, administrators and pledgees alternated.

Under the Habsburgs, the defensive structures were greatly expanded in the 14th century. However, this could not prevent the castle from being burned down by the Turks in 1529. Around the middle of the 16th century, reconstruction was carried out by the feudal lord Sigmund Graf Lodron. In 1556, a large fire destroyed the roofs and furnishings. Meanwhile, the castle had lost its military significance and was no longer rebuilt. Already in 1587, it was described as desolate. In 1776, Josef Freiherr von Penkler acquired the ruin. He was only interested in its profitable demolition and sold the ashlar stones of its walls.

Prince Johann I von und zu Liechtenstein bought the remaining rubble hill in 1812 and had a romantic "castle" including an observation tower built on it, which, however, soon became a ruin itself. From 1965 to 1970, the Mödling Museum Association endeavored to uncover and secure the remaining Romanesque building remains. In recent years, the ruin has been renovated by the owner, the municipality of Mödling.