Gstatt Castle

Gstatt Castle (formerly Gut Stad, Gstatt Provostry) is a Baroque castle in the Gstatt district of the Ennstal municipality of Mitterberg.

The three-story, elongated castle building is located on the left bank of the Enns at the foot of the Mitterberg elevation. Although the Gstatt district belongs to the municipality of Mitterberg, Gstatt Castle is considered part of the immediately adjacent municipality of Öblarn. Originally, Gut Stad was secured by a defensive structure and an outer bailey to protect against attacks. Remains of the former defensive system are still present today. Since 1927 or 1929[1], the estate, including its extensive landholdings (e.g., hunting grounds, forests, etc.), has been in the private possession of the Bohemian-Austrian noble family Colloredo-Mannsfeld.

The exact time of the construction of the former Gut Stad is not known. However, the founding of the German Rein Abbey in 1138 proves that the German County of Herren von Stade was in possession of the fortified building. Around 1170, Gut Stad came into the possession of the Benedictine Admont Abbey. After a change of ownership in 1335, the estate returned to the possession of the Benedictine Admont Abbey in 1383 and was used from 1394 as the Gstatt Lordship (Gstatt Provostry) for the administration of the abbey's possessions in the Ennstal. Due to the financial burden of the Turkish tax[2], Admont Abbey was forced to pledge the estate to the administrator Andreas von Stainach in 1533. During that time, the estate was expanded. In 1573, Admont Abbey bought back the fortified building. Extensive renovations took place between 1723 and 1726, during which the fortified building was Baroque-ized. In 1892, Gstatt Castle and the manorial estate were sold to Count Charles Francois Bardeau. At a public auction in 1927 or 1929, Count Hieronymus Colloredo-Mannsfeld bought Gstatt Castle with all its possessions. In 1937, the castle was rebuilt after a fire.

Worth Mentioning

A plaque at the main entrance states that the composer Hugo Wolf spent the summer of 1884 at Gstatt Castle.

Castle Chapel

In the immediate vicinity, below the castle complex, stands the associated Gstatt Chapel.