Ursprung Castle

The first documented mention of the Ursprinch estate dates back to 1122. It was initially a peasant hereditary property. In 1670, Augustin Friedrich von Hegi acquired the estate and transformed it into a manor, also obtaining hunting and tavern rights, as well as permission for a brewery. After a fire in 1707, Johann Friedrich von Rehlingen, who married Hegi's widow, rebuilt the castle in its current form. An inheritance dispute in 1773 led to the construction of the Three Brothers' Chapel. In 1823, the estate changed hands to master brewer Sigmund Hofmann, who also took over the brewery. In 1930, brewing operations ceased, and the estate was sold to Paul Krennwallner, who established a model agricultural farm. Since 1962, the Republic of Austria has owned the property, establishing a higher federal institute for agriculture here. The brewery building was demolished in 1977 to make way for a parking lot.