Walchenstein Castle

Well-preserved wall remains give an idea of the proud knight's castle from the 12th century. Walchenstein was once the seat of Görz ministerials, the Walchenstein family originating from Friuli. The first documented mention dates back to 1293.

In the later Middle Ages, Walchenstein Castle was of great importance to the Counts of Görz. Count Albert I granted the castle to his Friulian vassal Wolfram de Ragogna. After several changes of ownership, Conrad, Engelbert and Heinrich von Wallenstein are mentioned in documents, it fell by purchase in 1339 to Heinrich von Lavant, a Görz vassal. In the wars of the Görz against the Archbishopric of Salzburg in the 13th century and in the fight against Emperor Frederick III in the 15th century, the castle was tasked with blocking the path over the saddle. After the extinction of the Counts of Görz in 1500, Walchenstein lost its importance. It came into bourgeois possession and began to decay.

Between 1997 and 1999, archaeological investigations were carried out, the wall remains were conserved and made accessible to visitors from Moarhof and Wallensteinerhöfe. Today, the ruin is already overgrown again, and the created access is blocked.