Kirchberg Castle

The area around Grafendorf belonged to Count Ekbert II of Formbach-Pitten around 1130. One of his vassals probably built a castle before 1140.

From the Formbachers, Kirchberg came to the Mureckers, whose followers resided here in the first half of the 13th century. In 1245, Ortolf von Kirchberg is mentioned. In the late 13th century, the castle came into the possession of the Kranichbergers, who were related to the Mureckers, and then to the Pettauers. The Kirchbergers probably died out around 1380. Through marriage, the fief came to Ulrich von Trauttmansdorff. When the Pettauers also died out, Kirchberg became princely in 1438. However, the Trauttmansdorffs continued to be enfeoffed with the lordship. In 1480, Hans von Neuberg captured and devastated the castle.

In 1502, the sister of the already deceased Hans von Neuberg had to make partial restitution. In 1532, the Turks occupied the castle, caused destruction, and plundered it. Andree von Trauttmansdorff subsequently began to rebuild and expand the castle. His successor, Joachim von Trauttmansdorff, continued the work but incurred such high debts that he had to temporarily mortgage Kirchberg. In 1699, Constantia von Trauttmansdorff brought the castle into her marriage with Johann Herbert Graf Auersperg, who carried out further extensions to the castle, especially in the interior. However, neither he nor his descendants lived here.

In 1802, Hieronymus Wolf acquired the lordship, in whose family it remained for almost a century. Then the castle changed owners several times. In 1923, it was acquired by the State of Styria, which established an agricultural school here that still exists today. In 1969, a complete renovation and adaptation took place, during which the inner courtyard was covered and transformed into a dining hall.