Haus Castle

The origins of the castle date back to the 13th century, when a Ulrich von Haus was first mentioned in a document around 1291. The original castle, named after the Hauser family, who were also burgraves in Steyr, was probably located closer to the Aist river. In the 13th century, the Hausers gained notoriety as robber knights, deceiving merchants on the trade route between Pregarten and Mauthausen. In the 14th century, the castle became a princely fief of the Freistadt dominion, with Andre Hauzenberger as the first confirmed owner in 1391. After several changes of ownership, including the Sinzendorfers and Schweinböcks, the castle came into the possession of Georg von Landau in 1542. His son, Hannes von Landau, was later elevated to the rank of Baron of Haus and Rappottenstein. The Landau family, who had converted to Protestantism, lost the castle in 1620 through confiscation during the noble uprising and the Counter-Reformation. Count Leonhard Helfrich von Meggau acquired it in 1621. After an inheritance dispute, it fell to Count Cavriani before Count Gundaker Thomas von Starhemberg took over in 1708.