Stubegg Castle

Stubegg was only built in the 14th century by the Lords of Stubenberg. It is one of the few castles that was never sold, but only changed owners through inheritance. The reason for its construction was probably the rich mining area around Arzberg.

On the occasion of an inheritance division in 1383, Friedrich von Stubenberg received Stubegg. In a renewed inheritance division, the castle fell to Ulrich von Stubenberg in 1415. At the end of the 15th and beginning of the 16th centuries, there were several inheritance disputes within the House of Stubenberg over the castle. A lawsuit between Georg von Stubenberg and his cousin Caspar lasted until 1519. Georg handed Stubegg over to his cousin Wolfgang von Stubenberg in 1525.

Around 1600, Stubegg was the largest secular dominion in Styria. A later Georg von Stubenberg was a Protestant and had to leave the country in 1629. Before that, he had handed Stubegg over to his brother Wolf, who had converted to Catholicism. During the Turkish Wars, the castle's fortifications were strengthened. However, it was not attacked. After 1751, Leopold von Stubenberg had the Stubegg dominion merged with the main seat of Gutenberg and the administration concentrated in Gutenberg. Stubegg was abandoned and no longer maintained. Around 1830, the roof tax resulted in the removal of the roofs and complete ruin.

The forests around Arzberg are still owned by the Stubenbergers after 700 years, but the castle ruin is maintained by the "Burgspiele Stubegg" association. The tower was re-roofed and the walls renovated. Since 1975, open-air performances have taken place in Stubegg every July.