Walkering Castle

Walkering Castle is located in the Walkering district of the municipality of Vöcklamarkt in the Vöcklabruck district of Upper Austria (Walkering 1).

Walkering is first mentioned in 1320 as a Schaunberg fief, which was granted to the Kammer lordship. Walkering is mentioned in the Schaunberg Urbar of 1371. After the defeat of the Schaunbergers in their feud against the Habsburgs, Walkering came under the rule of the sovereign. In 1380, Duke Albrecht III enfeoffed Rüdiger Dachsenbeck with Walkering, and in 1395 the fief was renewed by Duke Albrecht IV. In 1423, a Paul Walchinger is named as the holder of the fief. Under the Walchingers, the lordship of Walkering was merged with that of Viecht in 1455, with jurisdiction being in Viecht. Therefore, later owners called themselves either "von und zu Walkering auf Viecht" or "von Walkering zu Viecht".

In 1515, a Hans Forster von Höhenperg is mentioned at Walkering, in 1559 the Oberdorfer zu Gaisbach, and in 1566 the Frondorfer von Walkering zu Viecht. From the last Frondorfer named Hanns, the lordship passed by inheritance to the Wiellinger von Au. Ernst (1570) and Wilhelm (1630) are mentioned. In 1633, Walkering and Viecht were owned by an Abraham Walkeringer. In 1665, Walkering was owned by the Passau Chamber Councillor Wilhelm Venerand Link von und zu Walkering auf Viecht. Other owners were: Franz von Rechling (1682–1693), Johann Felix Exenschläger (1723), Anton Neuburg, Edler von Ehrburg and Roman Imperial Knight (1731), Johann Geislitzer von Wittweng (17590 and 1756), Franz Josef Guldermann (1769), Marianne Schaffenrath (1778), Josef Erasmus Schwarzäugl and his son (1782); these sold the castle to Mr. Meergraf, who in turn sold it to Baron von Stümpfl. In 1837, Baron Thaddäus von Reischach appears as the owner, and in 1844 the glass manufacturer Wenzel Stimpfl from Freudenthal owned the noble seat. The low yields from Walkering and Viecht are cited as the reason for the frequent change of ownership: around 1750, the lordship comprised 32 subjects, from whom an income of 277 fl. was paid to the lordship.

In the 19th century, Walkering came into the possession of the Emminger family, who were farmers. Even today, Walkering is still a farm and owned by this family.