Obermatsch Castle Ruins

The ruin is located on the northern part of the ridge of a terminal moraine, around which the Saldurbach flows. 80 meters lower and 130 meters away lies the castle ruin Untermatsch, with which it forms a castle group.

The castles Ober- and Untermatsch were presumably built and inhabited in the 12th century by the vogts of Matsch. In 1297, the castles were divided as part of a family division between Egino IV. and Ulrich II., with Egino IV. receiving the upper castle. Obermatsch probably represented the older building, as from this point on the lower castle is mentioned for the first time. In 1309, Egino IV. finally slew his cousin Ulrich II., as the latter was said to have harassed his wife. In 1358, Ulrich III. attacked Obermatsch Castle, destroyed it and exterminated this older line of the family with his cousins Hartwig and Johann. In 1537, Obermatsch Castle came into the possession of the noble family of the Counts Trapp von Matsch, in whose possession it still is today. Due to the geographically difficult location for living, the castle was probably abandoned early.

Few wall remains of the keep and residential buildings have been preserved. In addition, a Romanesque castle chapel dedicated to Saint Martin from the late 12th century stands on the castle grounds of Obermatsch.