Ochsenburg Castle

Ochsenburg Castle is a castle in St. Pölten. It stands on a approximately 30 m high rock outcrop on the right bank of the Traisen in the southernmost St. Pölten district of Ochsenburg.

The medieval castle of the Lords of Ochsenburg was converted into a Renaissance-style castle during the 16th century. The Baroque south wing was probably built under Jakob Prandtauer around 1698. In the 18th century, the Nikolaus Chapel in the castle was redecorated, with Martin Johann Schmidt playing a significant role.

The castle was owned by the Canons' Monastery of St. Pölten from 1383 to 1530. In 1699, it was reacquired by the monastery under Provost Christoph Müller. In the course of the Josephine Reforms, the Monastery of St. Pölten was dissolved in 1784, and the castle was assigned to the Lower Austrian Religious Fund. In 1785, the newly established Diocese of St. Pölten received the right of use. During World War II, the castle was used as a military hospital and subsequently fell into disrepair. Since its renovation, the castle has served as a summer residence for the bishops of St. Pölten. In 2010, it was announced that the Diocese of St. Pölten was offering Ochsenburg Castle for sale for approximately three million euros. Since no buyer was found by mid-2011, it was announced that the castle would be renovated and could be rented for celebrations. However, a buyer is still being sought.

The castle and the manor house immediately to its east are listed as historical monuments.