Außenstein Castle

The first documented mention of a Ulrich von Stein at Außenstein dates back to 1294. In 1317, the Fleischeß family held Außenstein as a fief, but sold the castle in 1325 to Eberhard von Kapellen. After the Kapeller family died out in 1406, the feudal lordship passed to the Starhembergers. In the following decades, ownership changed hands several times, including the Stettheimer and Stundecker families. Wolfgang Stundecker was enfeoffed with the seat of Stein in 1535, followed by his son Urban in 1548. As the last Stundecker, Christoph, was a clergyman and thus not eligible for a fief, the lordship reverted to the Starhembergers. Rapid changes of ownership followed until Außenstein came into the possession of Jörg Flußhart in 1560. Under Erasmus Hack von Pornimb, who acquired Außenstein in 1590, the complex was converted into a palace. In 1665, the palace was acquired by Baron Johann Christoph von Clam-Martinic and has since been part of the Clam estate. Administration was conducted from Clam Castle, which led to a gradual decay of Schloss Außenstein.