Ostrau Castle

The origins of Ostrau extend far back, possibly to a Slavic rampart castle on an island formed by the moat. The first documented mention of the site occurred in 1125, when Margrave Konrad the Great donated the chapel and lands to the Augustinian monastery on Petersberg. In 1156, a margravial ministerialis named Hogerus von Ostrau was mentioned, indicating an already existing fortification. This lineage resided in Ostrau until 1285, and in 1237, Otto II von Ostrau had a castle chapel built. In 1288, Ostrau became part of the sale of the Lordship of Wettin to the Archdiocese of Magdeburg. Over the years until 1378, the Bishops of Merseburg gradually acquired the entire Lordship of Ostrau and granted it to various feudal lords, including the families of Witzleben, von Hoym, and von Leipzig. In 1540, the property was enfeoffed to Duke Heinrich the Pious, before passing into the possession of the von Veltheim family in 1585, who held it until 1945.