Ebenzweier Castle

The origins of Ebenzweier Castle date back to 1292, when it was documented as the ancestral seat of the Schachner family. The name of the estate, originally “Schachen” or “Nebenzweyer,” derives from its location “next to the pond.” The Schachners, who converted to Protestantism in the 16th century, were forced to leave the country in 1626 due to their faith, after which the property was confiscated by the sovereign. After brief ownerships by Christoph von Zedlitz and Abraham von Rohrbach, Thomas II von Seeau acquired the castle in 1633. The Seeau family held Ebenzweier until 1742, when it had to be auctioned off due to high debts. Following further changes of ownership, including Elias Engl von Wagrein and Anton von Unkrechtsberg, the castle came into the possession of Florian Max Clodi in 1802. Later, Archduke Maximilian Josef d’Este acquired the property, had it renovated, and transformed it into a country estate. After his death, his niece, Archduchess Maria Theresia, inherited the castle before it was sold in 1891 to Prince Don Jayme de Bourbon and later to Alfonso von Bourbon. In 1971, Prince Carlos Hugues de Bourbon donated the castle, which was in need of renovation, to the municipality of Altmünster. Today, it belongs to the State of Upper Austria and, after another restoration, serves as an educational institution.