Eibiswald Castle

Eibiswald Castle is a castle in the market town of Eibiswald in Styria. Its history dates back to the second half of the 12th century. Since 1953, it has belonged to the Styrian Chamber of Commerce, which maintains a provincial vocational school there.

At the site of the present castle, there was formerly a castle presumably built around 1170, which was originally probably owned by the Lords of Mureck and secured the road to the Radlpass. It is considered the successor to the "Turmbauerkogel" complex south of Eibiswald, whose beginnings are also dated to the 11th and 12th centuries. At the end of the 15th century, the masonry of the Turmbauerkogel complex was used for the expansion of Eibiswald Castle. When the administrative focus shifted from the Turmbauerkogel complex to Eibiswald Castle cannot be precisely determined; the change is associated with the redesign of the town of Eibiswald during the time of King Ottokar II Přemysl, who was also ruler of Styria from 1261. After the extinction of the Mureck family, the castle came into princely possession. The first documentary mention of the seat dates from 1255, when it was granted, along with the associated regional court, to Herbort von Füllenstein. In the 13th century, the castle was called "Ybanswalde," which can be traced back to a Lord Iwein. In 1294, the estate came as a fief to Hartnid von Wildon. The Wildoners appointed servants who managed the estate for them and, although not related, called themselves after Eibiswald.

The Wildoners were succeeded in possession in 1332 by the Lords of Wilthausen. However, to settle various inheritance claims, they had to pledge the castle to Haug von Tybein in 1345. In 1401, Eibiswald came to Rudolf von Wallsee. During the Walsee Feud, the castle was stormed by mercenaries of Duke Ernst. Only after the peace treaty with the Duke did Eibiswald return to the possession of the Lords of Walsee, who, however, had to briefly pledge it to Leutold von Stubenberg in 1456. Wolfgang von Wallsee sold the lordship in 1464 to Emperor Frederick III, who leased it a few years later to Wilhelm Grassl. After Grassl fell in battle against the Turks, Andree Spangsteiner took over the lease in 1475. In 1479, there was an occupation by the Hungarians. Emperor Maximilian I sold the estate in 1500 to Siegmund von Eibiswald. The Turks invading via the Radlpass devastated the farms belonging to the Eibiswald lordship in 1532, but spared the castle.

In 1572, a fire destroyed the castle. Wilhelm von Eibiswald had the burnt ruin rebuilt into a Renaissance castle. After his death in 1576, the lordship of Eibiswald reverted to the territorial princes. Wilhelm's brothers, Christof and Georg, could not buy it back, but only lease it. Archduke Karl of Inner Austria sold the castle in 1579 to Hans Leyb, who further expanded it. In 1622, the estate came into the possession of Julius Neidhart von Mörsperg, who acquired it as a free allodial property in 1624. Between 1639 and 1674, the Barons of Eibiswald again resided on the estate. After 1674, the castle came into the possession of Otto Wilhelm Graf Schrottenbach and his family. From 1775, Ignaz Ernst Purgay was administrator, from 1784 tenant, and from 1800 owner of the Eibiswald lordship. Since Purgay had debts due to failed speculations, the estate was confiscated in 1820 and sold in 1829 to Friedrich Georg Hansa. The Hansa family remained in possession of the castle until 1883. In 1890, the Vinzenzverein for voluntary poor relief bought the castle and established a boys' boarding school there, which existed until 1938. Since 1953, the building has belonged to the Styrian Chamber of Commerce, which maintains the Provincial Vocational School for Electrical Installation Technology and Radio Mechanics there. The last restoration of the castle took place in 1985.