Ebelsberg Castle

The building history of the castle is divided into six construction phases:

Construction Phase I: Gate Tower

The stump of the former gate tower, which according to archaeological investigation was the first structure on the grown loess soil of the castle hill, dates from the oldest construction phase of the castle. In 1255, the tower was first mentioned. Piccolomini described in a letter in 1444 the already existing upper floors with a surrounding battlement. At the top, there was a lookout position. The upper floors of the tower were rebuilt in the 15th century to create more habitable, brighter rooms. According to the descriptions of the urbarium, the tower was six stories high. Excavations suggest that the southeastern gate tower of the castle was built around the twelfth century. It is assumed that the building in the southeast was protected by a double moat and surrounded by multiple walls. In the center of the complex was a courtyard with a well.

Construction Phase II: Destruction and Reconstruction 1242 to Early 16th Century

After the destruction of the castle in the conflict between Frederick II and Bishop Rüdiger of Passau in the years 1242–1244, the castle was rebuilt and probably extended. The restoration lasted until 1255, during which the fortified tower, intended to ensure the bishop's safety, was mentioned for the first time. The rest of the complex consisted of residential and economic buildings. The exact appearance of the castle in the 13th and 14th centuries is not certainly known. In 1444, the three closed fronts along the steep sides of the castle hill and the two neck moats with bridges to the east were described. The previously isolated building parts thus formed a closed complex. It can be assumed that the Linz Gate did not yet exist at this time. When the Zwinger (outer bailey) system in the west was built is not known. In Piccolomini's letter, it was compared to a triple wall around the castle. Piccolomini's description from the 15th century shows some similarities with Clemens Beuttler's drawing and the 1797 ground plan. This ground plan also shows the two wells; a third water inlet was also mentioned. In the 16th century, the fronts were unified, smoothed, and continuous wings were created. The construction of the staircase is also presumed to have taken place during this period.

Construction Phase III: Restoration under Bishop Wolfgang Graf von Salm

At the beginning of the 16th century, the castle was neglected, but was restored by Bishop Wolfgang Graf von Salm (1540–1555) through repair work. Window frames, canopies, tower floors, and the kitchen were repaired, and some stairs were mended. The brewery, which supplied the surrounding estates until 1559, was also built at this time. Simultaneously, a brewery was opened in Linz, which set limits for Ebelsberg. In 1546, the construction work was described on a coat of arms plaque to the left of the castle gate on the market side. The renovation work found its way into two works by the humanist Kasper Bruschius.

Construction Phase IV: Fire of 1586, 1589 Coat of Arms Stone Bishop Urban von Trennbach

A fire in 1586 destroyed the castle, the market, and the Ebelsberg Traun bridge. The reconstruction under Bishop Urban III Trennbach lasted until 1589. This was not a new construction, as the internal structure is too irregular and the two polygonal stair towers certainly originated earlier, in the mid-16th century. The lateral show gables of the north wing showed in the mid-17th century a central and two lateral round turrets with spires, which were attributable to the Renaissance period. In Beuttler's drawing, these had already been replaced by niches. A plaque on the right side of the market-side castle gate provides information about the destruction and renovation work.

Construction Phase V under Bishop Wenzel (1667–1824)

During Bishop Wenzel's tenure, the chapel and the great hall were rebuilt, and the long stable was newly constructed. In the 1797 ground plan, these areas are visible, except for the corridor system built only in the 19th century. The exact layout of the ground floor and its division is only partially included in the plan; only the exterior of the south wing is visible. In the north wing, near the old brewery, existing remnants of the access to the Zwinger were reinstalled. The west wing was significantly altered during the construction of the outer wall of the south wing in the 19th century. The high wall rails on the inside of the corridor are reminiscent of the old construction of the south wing, as also seen in the illustration from 1824.

Construction Phase VI: The Renovation of the Castle after 1826 by Baron von Kast

A fire towards the end of the 18th century and the destruction of the castle during the battle of 1809 had deteriorated the condition of the castle, both externally and internally. After its acquisition by Baron von Kast in 1825, the complex received its current internal layout with a corridor system surrounding the courtyard, and a large main staircase was installed in the south wing. The construction work necessitated support measures on the ground floor. While the wings had very different levels before the renovation at the beginning of the 10th century, around 1827 the uppermost floor was removed and the remaining floors were brought to the same height. The wings had different functions. The east wing and the lower floors of the north wing were intended for economic purposes, administrative matters were handled in the west wing, and the south wing was dedicated to representation and residential purposes. The reconstruction work of the castle after 1827 under Baron von Kast was described in literature as a "relatively economical new adaptation." At that time, the roof received a substructure, which slightly raised the flat profile of the building. The stair towers and the Linz Gate were adorned with a battlement. The staircase and the gazebo-like wooden veranda above the courtyard-side entrance are considered particularly characteristic of this construction phase.

Its location on a hill makes the castle appear as a unified structure above the town. The complex forms a quadrangle and has two stories; from the trapezoidal inner courtyard, the original building form can hardly be guessed. The building has largely retained its original size from the beginning of the modern era, but is one story lower. It also contains structural remains from the first third of the 13th century, the earliest construction phase of the castle. The towers were built in the first half of the 19th century, and the facades were renewed.

Exterior

The two-story complex describes an irregular quadrangle with smooth facade fronts and very flat gable roofs. The otherwise unarticulated exterior facade is only emphasized by the Linz and Ennser Gates. The Ennser Gate projects one axis on the east facade. Above the basket-arched stone jamb, fitted with wedge and impost stones, there is a horizontal cornice with three coat of arms stones. To the left, the former defensive tower is recognizable by the widened window axis. The Linz Gate in the west wing is higher than the rest of the building and ends with a battlement with blind arches below the flat roof.

The entrance to the Ennser Gate has a cross vault between ribs (after 1826). On the south wall, the medieval masonry of the gate tower is visible. In the west wing, the Linz Gate drops more than a meter from the current courtyard level to the outer portal, as the courtyard was raised with rubble after 1825. The gate entrance has a barrel vault with groined lunettes (16th century).

On the south wall of the courtyard, there is a wooden glazed balcony supported by two Doric granite columns. It served as a porch for the staircase built in the 19th century. Beneath the veranda porch is the coat-of-arms-crowned portal to the main staircase, which until 1987 was framed by two fluted stucco pilasters with capitals.

In the center of the courtyard, a 19th-century dolphin fountain dominates the scene. The wide and round fountain basin has a square baluster column in the middle with a shallow shell-shaped bowl, supported by three water-spouting dolphins.

Cellar

The cellar now consists only of the two-story quadrangle in the south and west wings. The former beer cellar in the north wing is buried, and there is no basement in the east wing. The cellar rooms are unplastered, where the original wall structure is clearly visible. In the square large wine cellar, a rectangular central pillar of ashlar stones supports four pointed-arch cross vaults of bricks. The side walls are structured differently. The north wall contains in its upper section the coarse, slightly protruding plinth masonry of the former gate tower, below which lie light bricks and rubble stones. In the western corner, there is a round-arched portal opening with rising stone steps; from there, a wide staircase led up to the courtyard, which is now walled up. The south and north walls of the cellar consist of larger, probably previously used as spolia, light, smooth sandstone ashlar blocks of a different origin than those of the former defensive tower. The cellar floor was probably paved with pebbles in the 16th century.

The small wine cellar is accessible from the former passage between the courtyard and the outer bailey. A marble Gothic spolia is built into its upper access. In the cellar, a central support with chamfered edges bears four brick groin vaults of slightly pointed barrels. A round-arched, chamfered stone jamb leads to the adjacent barrel-vaulted side room. The walls mostly consist of dark granite rubble stones, mixed with bricks. In the lower wall zone at the northwest corner of the castle, lighter bricks were used. The cellar is likely to have originated in the 15th or first half of the 16th century due to the late Gothic spandrel masonry. The other cellar rooms have brick barrels over slightly sloped plinth zones, probably also from the 16th century.

Stair Towers

The two stair towers of the castle still have the original groin vaults from the 16th century in the roof truss, the southeastern one a cross-rib vault, the northwestern one an eight-part lunette vault. The steps of the spiral staircases are made of Untersberg marble. The portal, the wooden door with wrought-iron fittings, acanthus and mask decor on the upper floor of the southeastern stair tower are attributable to the 16th/17th century. The south stairwell has a steep single-flight approach that tapers upwards, a representative installation of the 19th century after 1826. It divides into two semicircular arms that open into a spacious vestibule on the upper floor. The likewise semicircular end of the vestibule towards the stairwell shaft, a curved balustrade with four figural finials, has a theatrical, balcony-like effect. The balustrade of the lower flight of stairs also has four finials with two neoclassical vases each at the beginning and end of the approach. Access from the courtyard to the stairwell is shifted northwards from the axis via a four-step three-sided open staircase under the veranda. The lower flight of stairs is vaulted with Prussian caps. At the foot, two Tuscan granite columns, connected by a segmental arch with a wrought-iron lamp and floral decor, form a kind of triumphal arch motif. To the side of the staircase are two round-arched windows to the stairwell shaft. The upper connection of the approach is a segmental-arched portal with glazed wings. On the courtyard-side wall, a monumental mirror is framed internally with etched glass (Murano) and externally with elaborate carving.

The upper stair landing and the vestibule are equipped with a ceiling mirror, a chandelier, an olive-colored stove, and a wall mirror. The frame consists of cloverleaf-shaped, overlapping strips, surrounded by a simple round strip with a rosette frieze, with somewhat more opulent star rosettes in the corners and also circular rosettes in the center of the mirror. The chandelier consists of wrought-iron chains with glass candelabras. The wall mirror has a wooden frame; the small table next to it with brass applications dates from the late Biedermeier-early Historicist period.

Wings

The former kitchen in the south wing of the ground floor currently serves as a salon. The room is three-axis with an anteroom and has a barrel vault with arch ribs. The current furnishings date from 1925 and have been slightly altered several times since then. The remaining part of the ground floor houses the museum's exhibition rooms.

The west wing of the upper floor is characterized by an enfilade of five rooms. The first three (from the north) are equipped with Bohemian glass chandeliers (around 1825) and brass door fittings from the first half of the 19th century. In the first two rooms, there are white Swedish tiled stoves. The fourth room, the so-called concert hall, is adorned with a wooden wheel chandelier, also from the first half of the 19th century. It is equipped with a large white stove on iron feet with rococo decor, a mirror with a gold frame, and side wall sconces matching the chandelier. The fifth room, the so-called China room in the tower with a square floor plan, is entered through a bronze door with a lyre depiction and Diana and Apollo reliefs. The Empire stove has ceramic reliefs with a female genius in a lion chariot and putti. Late Biedermeier wreaths with arrows are attached to the sides. Chinoiseries are another decorative feature of the room.

The veranda, which is entered from the upper vestibule, consists of a wooden structure with a tent roof. At the apex is a cast-iron lamp. On the simple plank floor stands a small corner table with lion consoles.

On the upper floor of the south wing, a small dining room has a stucco ceiling in early Historicist forms. The adjoining corner room is next to the tower and above the Linz Gate. It is equipped with a cylindrical white Empire stove with raptor feet and a top vase. The southeastern corner room has a Swedish tiled stove with late Historicist Baroque-style decor in white from the second half of the 19th century.

Outbuildings of the Castle

The castle's property, now administered by the Kast Estate Management, originally included a variety of outbuildings, which over time were either demolished or repurposed. The so-called "Servants' House" on the steep ascent from the market to the castle took over the conscription number 45 from the manorial Mairhof, which stood in the current park and fell victim to the conflict in 1809, when it was built in 1815. The former "Pigsty" (Ebelsberg 19), which was actually a Meierhof already mentioned in 1526 and received its name from the castle's agricultural operation located there, was renovated and converted, so that later, among other things, a bicycle dealer and today rental apartments found space in it. The neighboring "Häusl in der Leiten" – purchased by Marianna Kast in 1839 – no longer exists today, just like the press house in the castle park, connected to the underground cider cellar, which was demolished in 1986. The decorative press stone found new use next to the eastern castle gate.

At the entrance to that park, two other buildings stand out: The first, directly at the gate, is the recently renovated "Gatehouse". The second is the "Gardener's House" or "Garden House" located somewhat to the south, which owes its name, among other things, to the "Schlossgärtnerei Sandner" (today: Stiftsgärtnerei Sandner) located here in the 1970s, or its location. However, it was adapted for residential purposes, which it had already served earlier as the official's house. Currently, Prince Auersperg lives in it. The staircase that led from there to the market no longer exists today. In the market itself, only house 39 remains as one of several in Kast's possession. The outlying Kremsmairhof also belongs to it, as do the equestrian facility built in the 1960s and the Ziegelhubgut.

In terms of land ownership, after the sale of large properties for residential development, approximately 30 hectares of floodplain, several leased agricultural areas, and fishing waters are still available.

Coats of Arms and Building Inscriptions

The coats of arms of Ebelsberg Castle were evidently repeatedly passed down during renovations for reasons of legitimizing Passau's claim to the dominion of Ebelsberg. During the last major renovation in 1825, the coats of arms, considered building inscriptions, were only partially rearranged and supplemented by two Baroque-style stones from Baron von Kast, who had the present Ennser Gate and the main staircase redesigned.

Outside, above the Ennser Gate, is the coat of arms of Baron v. Kast (after 1825) as a transversely oval coat of arms stone with floral, baroque framing. The first quarter shows a standing figure in a long robe with a flower in hand. The second and fourth are split and show a animal head accompanied by three stars in front and a diagonal cross behind. In the third quarter, a chevron is accompanied by three roses. Furthermore, this coat of arms contains two crests. The right one is a barred helmet with lions facing left above, the second crest a figure with an attribute in the right hand between two horns (= Baron v. Kast. A very similar coat of arms stone is located in the courtyard above the staircase portal).

In the courtyard of the castle, the double coat of arms of Bishop Georg von Hohenlohe dominates the scene. On the southeastern stair tower on the second floor, there is the double coat of arms consisting of two smooth, composite, and tall rectangular plates. The coats of arms show a pure round form as the lower end, jousting helmets in the crest, and Gothic jagged work. On the first coat of arms is a rampant (naturalistic) wolf with a horizontal tail. On the second coat of arms are two lions striding one above the other, looking forward, with their tails tucked under. As a crest, an eagle is above, with wings spread far above its head (=Hohenlohe). The crest exceeds the size of the shields. The coat of arms was also in this place in 1668.

Today, the castle is in private ownership.

Ebelsberg Castle Cultural Association

The Ebelsberg Castle Cultural Association was founded in 1977 with the aim of restoring the castle and its park and putting the complex to contemporary and meaningful use. Since 1979, under the direction of the Ebelsberg Castle Cultural Association, the castle has been available to the public for exhibitions, musical, folk, and cultural events, as well as for civil weddings, wedding celebrations, seminars, and corporate events. During Advent, an Advent market takes place at the castle.

Ebelsberg Castle Museum

The arms collection, operated by the Ebelsberg Castle Cultural Association in cooperation with the Kast Estate Management, displays weapons from the holdings of the Upper Austrian State Museum.

Today, Ebelsberg Castle houses a museum with two permanent exhibitions – these are mainly dedicated to the Battle of Ebelsberg in 1809 and a naval exhibition of the Imperial Navy in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The arms collection shows the development of weapons in Austria and other European states during the 19th and 20th centuries. Items in this exhibition include rifles and machine guns, pistols and revolvers, and bladed weapons. The naval exhibition displays former ships from the Imperial and Royal Navy. This is intended to commemorate the time when Austria was still a naval power.

Ebelsberg Castle Park

After Karl Theodor von Kast acquired the castle, he had a park laid out to the east in 1826. A horse chestnut avenue leads through the park to the castle's gate tower. Among the trees are valuable species such as boxwood, small-leaved lime, English oak, tulip tree, tree of heaven, shrub chestnut, Japanese pagoda tree, and many more. Since 1890, the park has also housed a war memorial honoring those who fell in the battle around 1809. The castle park, somewhat secluded from the town center, is only hesitantly accepted as a recreational area. In the future, this is to change through unspecified attractiveness-enhancing measures.