Großkirchheim Castle

Großkirchheim Castle in Döllach in the municipality of Großkirchheim is a double castle complex.

In 1150, a "locus Chyrichaim" was first mentioned in a document. In 1157, Reginher von Steierberg and his wife Petrissa donated their estate "apud Chyrichaim" to Admont Abbey. In the Peace of Pusarnitz in 1460, the estate passed to the Habsburgs. With the flourishing of precious metal mining at the end of the 15th century, "Krchheimegg" Castle served as the official residence of the mining judge. Melchior Putz, a merchant from Augsburg, had the existing building rebuilt around 1550 and began construction of the southern castle in 1561, which was completed after 1576 according to the year on the coat of arms stone to the left of the main portal. With the bankruptcy of the Putz family, the two castles came into the possession of Martin Strasser von Neudegg and later Matthias Jenner von Vergutz. From 1680 to 1770, the castles belonged to the Fromiller family. In the 19th century, the northern castle was sold and temporarily used as a brewery, finally coming into the possession of the municipality. The southern castle was bought in 1869 by Josef Aicher von Aichenegg. After it was no longer permanently inhabited, it served as emergency accommodation for about 200 people for a time after the 1935 flood. In 1956, a local history and gold mining museum was established in the southern castle by the then owner. The northern castle is owned by Maria Hauser-Sauper and is made available for cultural events.