Staatz Castle

An initial castle complex was built on the Staatz Cliff as early as the 11th century, with a Pucho de Stoz first mentioned in a document in 1072. The Staatz family shaped the region until the mid-13th century. In 1246, the castle served as a prison for Ulrich of Carinthia, who had been defeated in a battle against Frederick II the Quarrelsome. King Ottokar II Přemysl later enfeoffed Otto von Maissau with the castle, under whose rule the settlement below the castle was elevated to a town. Following a rebellion against Duke Albrecht V, the castle was taken from the Maissauers in 1430 and pledged to Niklas Truchseß von Drasenhofen in 1431. In the early 16th century, Staatz passed to the Barons of Roggendorf, before being pledged to the Barons of Breuner in 1551, who further expanded the complex.