Labach Castle

Labach Castle (sometimes also referred to as Lambach, Labmpach or Labenbach) is located in the Wilhelmsdorf district of the municipality of Stuhlfelden in the Zell am See district in the federal state of Salzburg (Wilhelmsdorf 1).

In 1352, the estate of Lopach is already mentioned, which Archbishop Ortolf von Weißenegg then sold to his brother Heinrich. In 1393, Archbishop Pilgrim donated the estate of Lobach, where Andre resided, as a benefice for the St. Ubald altar in Salzburg Cathedral. Other owners were Nikolaus Köll (1410), Zacherl (1465), Peter Chlamer (around 1490), Erasmus von Moslehen (around 1510), Wolfgang Gauter (around 1520), Andreas Entgasser (1523), known as the Lappacher.

He sold the property to Melchior Welser, holder of the cellarer's office in Stuhlfelden, and his wife Emerenz Oberndorfferin. An inscription on a marble tablet with an alliance coat of arms reports on the renovation of the house by these owners ("This house was built by Melchior Welser, Khellner zu Stuelfelden, and Emerenz Oberndorfferin, his wife, with God's blessing for their heirs and descendants in 1591"). The property then passed to Abraham Welser and his son Adam Welser zu Labenbach and Wagrain. In 1680, the impoverished Welser family sold the property to Martin Doldy von Purk near Mittersill. His still underage children sold the property in 1681 to Bartelme Perger and his wife. In 1685, the castle was sold on to Ruep Prießler vom Lechen in Mittersill and his wife. In 1695, Maria Anna, née von Prochenperg, and her husband Martin Löcker von Kronenkreuz succeeded to the ownership. At that time, Labach was still surrounded by a wall. In 1707, their son Martin Löcker took over the castle, but died childless. His widow sold the castle in 1751 to Josef Jell (†1755). He was inherited by his parents, his father Josef Jell, princely Salzburg chief forest master, and his mother Maria Marschallerin. They sold the property in 1765 to the farmer Bartelme Pfeffer.

From this point on, Labach remained in peasant hands. Maria Scharler (1771) followed, then her daughter Gertraud Scharler. In 1790, Johannes Hölzl and his wife bought the property. They were followed by their son Johann. In 1851, their niece Eva Hölzl came into possession of the castle, marrying Matthias Lemberger in the same year. Currently, Ferdinand Steinberger is the owner of the castle.