Thörl Castle

Thörl Castle is located in Thörl on the Thörlbach and Mariazeller Straße north of Bruck an der Mur in Styria (Austria) at an altitude of approx. 630 m above sea level.

A fortified road barrier was first mentioned in a document in 1345. In the 15th century, St. Lambrecht Abbey erected a defensive structure that also served as a road barrier. From the 17th to the 19th century, the complex was expanded and converted into a castle or a stately industrialist's residence.

The expansion into an industrialist's residence and castle began around 1450 under Peter Pögel and appears to have been completed with Sebold I. Pögel. The year 1510 on the gate tower indicates this. The Barbara Chapel was already completed by 1469. Around 1630, Jörg von Klingendraht had the older part of the east wing added to the existing Pögel building on the northeast wing. Franz Gasteiger, who had been an industrialist in Thörl since about 1740, significantly expanded the castle, but died in 1747 - yet his widow Anna Maria Gasteiger completed the renovation. An extension to the east wing and a connection to the renovated Barbara Chapel were created. In 1767, Josef Karl Gasteiger Edler von Lorberau commissioned Josef A. von Mölck to decorate the south front with frescoes.

In 1871 and 1872, the Mariazellerstraße, which had previously run through the castle, was relocated. This necessitated the demolition of some outbuildings and changes to the tower.

The castle is now owned by a family foundation and was extensively restored in the early 1980s with expert support from the Federal Monuments Office.

Castle Chapel

The castle chapel was built immediately to the southwest and completed by 1469 at the latest. In the mid-18th century, a new chapel was built in place of the old one. It is dedicated to St. Barbara, the patron saint of miners.