Rastenfeld Castle

In the 13th century, the Raspo family, originating from Friesach, built a castle on the site of the present-day castle. A "Raspo" was mentioned in a document in 1241, the complex itself only in 1432 as "Raspenveld" (veld=fortress). Later it came into the possession of Wilhelm von Perneck (Pernegk), who sold it to the Diocese of Gurk in 1469. Emperor Frederick III renounced his feudal sovereignty in 1478, so that Rastenfeld became a free allodial property with a castle district. It remained property of the diocese until 1530, during which time the castle was converted into a palace. Other known owners include Martin and Wolfgang von Feistritz (from 1530), Sidonie Franziska Countess von Herberstein (1688), and in the 18th century, the Barons von Schluga. In the 19th century, ownership changed frequently; most recently, it belonged to the Viennese singer Marie Geistinger, who sold Rastenfeld in 1893 to the industrialist Carl Freiherr Auer von Welsbach, the inventor of the incandescent light. The castle is now owned by his descendants. Not far from Rastenfeld, Auer von Welsbach had Welsbach Castle built between 1898 and 1900.

Rastenfeld Castle is a massive, four-story late medieval building on an approximately octagonal floor plan. All building wings were built in the 15th century and renovated at the beginning of the 16th century. A rectangular tower projects from the southwest corner of the castle, and despite several attached oriels, the castle appears quite fortress-like. Two late Gothic portals lead into a four-sided, irregular, and narrow inner courtyard. The round-arched main gate, framed by mighty stone blocks and with massive wheel guards, is still preserved in its original form; some other gates and windows also show late Gothic profiling. The complex has extensive outwork and zwinger fortifications; among the defensive structures, a rotatable loophole is particularly noteworthy.

Northeast of the castle stands the castle chapel, consecrated to Saint Johannes Nepomuk in 1773. The simple small church building was erected on the remains of a defensive tower; the former dungeon is still recognizable. The chapel has a roof turret with an onion dome, and its apse is decorated with a painted baldachin. The tabernacle altar dates from 1774.