Welsdorf Castle

Welsdorf Castle is located southwest of Fürstenfeld. Welsdorf was originally part of the Fürstenfeld am Stein dominion. At the beginning of the 16th century, Christof Perner sold the small estate, and a modest farmstead was built. Around 1550, this was acquired by Wolf von Wilfersdorf. His son built a noble residence next to the farmstead, for which he received permission in 1603 to name it "Wolfsdorf". During the Haiduk invasion of 1605, the residence and the farmstead were burned down along with the village of Übersbach. Reconstruction was slow. In 1701, the Augustinian Canons' Monastery of Pöllau bought Welsdorf. The castle was expanded into a four-wing complex and used as a summer residence for the provosts. Of the formerly four massive square corner towers, three are still preserved. The loopholes in the attic of the northwest tower are among the oldest architectural details of the castle. It was once also surrounded by a wall and bastions. Nothing remains of the former fortifications today.