Feldegg Castle

The origins of Feldegg Castle date back to the Middle Ages, with a predecessor building presumably located on an island in the current castle pond. The Pilch family, who named themselves after Feldegg from 1442, built a second castle complex north of the present castle. After the male line of the Pilch family died out, the property passed to Caspar von Retschan through marriage. His grandson Christoph Abraham von Retschan had the current castle rebuilt between 1589 and 1594. After his death, Feldegg changed hands several times, including the Hochberg and Pranckh families. In 1713, Johann Achaz Wiellinger von der Au acquired the castle. A fire in 1811 destroyed parts of the castle, including the attic and the onion dome. The 19th century saw numerous changes of ownership. At the beginning of the 20th century, demolition was threatened, but art historian Karl Alfred Walcher von Molthein saved the castle from 1917 through renovations. After World War II, which the castle survived unscathed, Georg Hanreich acquired the property in 1964 and began its revitalization. His son Bernhard Hanreich took over part of the castle in 2002.