Poneggen Castle

Poneggen Castle is a former castle complex in Upper Austria, located on the outskirts of Schwertberg in the Mühlviertel region. The castle was first mentioned in the 13th century and converted into a factory in the 18th century. Today, the house known as "Das Stöckl" is used as a residential building.

The castle was first mentioned in 1297 as an estate under Hermann von Ponke. In 1307, it is documented as a fief. Around 1380, a Hans der Lasberger is named as owner; otherwise, no documents about the castle from this period have been preserved. In 1537, Hans Wankhammer bequeathed the building to Hans and Michael Schätzl as well as Andre Stockinger. These heirs sold it on March 9, 1538, to the brothers Hans, Lassla, and Andreas Prager. In 1598, Friedrich Prager bequeathed the castle to his wife Elisabeth Freiin von Roggendorf, who, however, was abroad. As she was a Protestant, in 1623 her brother-in-law Wilhelm von Starhemberg leased the castle to Christoph Ernst Kölnböck von Ottsdorf, the administrator of the Schwertberg dominion. In 1635, it passed into the possession of Count Leonhard Helfried von Meggau, who died in 1644. The two castles in the village came to Susanne von Meggau, who brought them into her marriage with Count Heinrich Wilhelm von Starhemberg.

In 1651, Johann Jakob Offner followed as owner of the castle. In 1655, it almost completely burned down but was rebuilt in the following period. After Johann's death, the castle went to Count Johann Ferdinand von Salburg, who united the two lordships in Schwertberg. After him, Count Lobgott von Kuefstein and Count Grundacker von Thürheim became owners. In 1764, Count Thürheim sold the castle to a hosiery factory, which converted the castle into a small factory building. The factory existed until 1818 and received a monopoly for its products from Empress Maria Theresia in 1768. The following appear as owners of the castle: around 1770 a Franz Güglleithner, until 1798 an Augustin Glück, until 1803 Johann Kaspar Zötl, and in 1812 Johann Nepomuk Wildauer. His widow sold the building after 1821 to Johann Pautsch. In 1841, Ferdinand Wall was named, in 1899 Baroness Therese Schniter as owner, and from 1911 it was in the family possession of the Counts Hoyos. From their possession, it passed to Karl Lammerhuber. Currently, rental apartments are housed in the former castle.