Ludwigstorff Castle

Together with several other defensive structures, the castle's task in the Middle Ages was to seal off the particularly vulnerable Hungarian Gate in an emergency. The long-term rulers were the Knights Dörr von Wildungsmauer, who owned Deutsch-Altenburg from the mid-12th century until 1620. Alban and Johann von Dörr commissioned the construction of the magnificent parish church in 1213. The ashlar masonry of the Romanesque nave and the charnel house still date from this period. In 1297, Altenburg was first mentioned in a document. In 1396, in a feud, the Hungarian lords of Scharfeneck castle overran the garrison of Altenburg castle. The Knights of Dörr were also the first to commercially exploit the healing power of the sulfurous water by establishing a spa here in 1549. However, the thermal baths were already used by the soldiers of Carnuntum during Roman times. Ehrenreich von Dörr was the last of his family. Through his daughter Anna Elisabetha, the lordship passed to the Barons von Concin. In 1621, it passed to the Barons von Polheim. They were followed first by the Kollonitsch and then, before 1672, by the Geyer von Edelbach. The current building was constructed in the 17th century as a moated castle, but still looked significantly different from today on Vischer's engraving from 1672. In 1693, the Counts Colalto owned the castle. But already in 1699, it was owned by the Counts Rambold. Since 1709, the building has been inhabited by the Barons von Ludwigstorff and their descendants. Soon after the acquisition of the lordship, it was largely rebuilt by Carlo Antonio Carlone. The severe devastation caused by Russian occupation troops in the last days of World War II and in the period thereafter rendered the castle unusable for years. After the damage was repaired, the Africa Museum of the big-game hunter Ernst Zwilling was housed in the castle. Meanwhile, the museum has closed again and the building now serves only as a residence. The current castle owners are also responsible for the spa administration of Deutsch-Altenburg.

Ludwigstorff Castle is located in the immediate vicinity of the spa center, not far from the Danube bank. It is a four-winged, two-story building on a trapezoidal floor plan around an inner courtyard. The four corners of the building feature strongly projecting corner oriels resting on consoles with pointed roofs. The former moats were filled in during the 19th century, and the defensive walls were demolished. A beautiful park now extends in their place. The show side of the castle is the street front. It is significantly shorter than the park side to the northwest, as one narrow side runs diagonally backward. The center of the front is emphasized by a narrow, slightly projecting central risalit. The main portal is located here. Above its depressed round arch, the stone balustrade of an altana supported by two columns projects. The room behind it is illuminated by a stone-framed rectangular double window. This is crowned with a broken triangular pediment. Above the central risalit rises a roof turret covered with a pointed pyramidal roof. On the park side, an asymmetrically located, two-armed outdoor staircase above the entrance provides direct access to the garden. In the courtyard, an ornamental fountain with a wrought-iron grille has been preserved. Three walls of the courtyard are equipped with an open iron gallery, to which two outdoor staircases lead. The former castle chapel was only later incorporated into the castle complex but has long been deconsecrated. It is located on the right side of the gate hall. Roman architectural elements are exhibited in the courtyard and in the passages. Most of the once rich interior furnishings were lost due to several fires and the occupation period. Next to the castle stands a mighty baroque farm building with a three-aisled columned hall.