Kapfenstein Castle

Kapfenstein was first mentioned in a document in 1065. In the second half of the 12th century, the Caphensteiners built a first castle on a spur on the eastern slope of the mountain, but it was destroyed in 1238 by an army of the Hungarian King Béla and then rebuilt.

In 1362, the castle came into the possession of the Wallseer family. Around 1422, indebted and run down, it came into the possession of Sigmund von Wolfsau. Kapfenstein was conquered in 1432 and Sigmund was convicted of disturbing the peace. The dominion was confiscated by Duke Friedrich V and passed on as a fief. After Hans Schüßler, who owned the castle only briefly, Jörg von Weisseneck took over in 1468. From 1584 to 1799, it was owned by the Lords of Lengheim.

They had it extensively expanded over the centuries. The castle was besieged by the Turks in 1664 and by the Kuruc in the 18th century, but could not be taken. After that, it was no longer maintained and gradually fell into disrepair. The Lengheim family died out in 1835 with Count Joachim. However, he had already sold the castle in 1799 to Dr. Johann von Sertenthal, who was followed as owner in 1810 by Johann Piebetz. Since 1918, Kapfenstein has belonged to the Winkler von Hermaden family. In 1945, it was plundered by Soviet troops. The owner family renovated the castle in 1968, which has since been run as a restaurant and hotel.