Stubenberg Castle

Stubenberg Castle is a castle in Stubenberg am See in Styria.

The complex from the 13th century, which was expanded into a castle in the 16th century on the foundations of the old castle's manor farm, takes its name from one of the oldest and most important noble families of Styria, the Lords of Stubenberg. Until the 17th century, they provided five provincial governors and, when threatened from the east, had to deploy more horses and archers than the Archbishop of Salzburg. As the Counts of Stubenberg turned to Protestant teachings in the 16th century and Georg Sigmund emigrated to Bavaria with most of the family fortune, the family lost influence. Stubenberg Castle came into the possession of the Drachsler family, who are known as the builders of the Renaissance castle with its enclosed arcaded courtyard (1581). From 1632 it belonged to the Herberstein family, and in the 19th century, the Counts of Wurmbrand acquired it. Henriette Countess of Wurmbrand-Stuppach founded a convent of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary in 1926, which was housed in Stubenberg Castle until 1979. In 1980, it came into the private ownership of Frank and Margaritha Schleicher, and since 1981, the arcaded courtyard and the ballroom have been available for cultural events. Since 2001, there has also been a hotel in the castle.