Location: Griffen Map
Constructed: 1124-1146 by Bishop Otto of Bomberg
Burg Griffen is a large medieval castle situated on a picturesque mountain in an Austrian province of Carinthia.
The castle was built between 1124 and 1146 by the Bamberg prince
bishops. In 1160, Emperor Friedrich I named Grivena Castle as Bamberg's
property of old. Blood jurisdiction belonged to the castle until 1425.
In 1292, Ulrich von Heunburg occupied the fortress during a rebellion
against King Rudolf's son, Duke Albrecht I. In 1293 Ulrich had to leave
the castle again. Bamberg rule ended in 1759. The castle was
incorporated into the Carinthian rule. Then there were several
successive owners, namely Maria Theresia, then Count Egger and finally
the Freiherren von Helldorf.
In the 16th century a major
reconstruction of the castle took place. The floor area was about 4000
m². In 1659 a lightning strike destroyed one of the towers. The last
service took place in the castle in 1768 and in 1840 the dilapidated
roofs were torn down. In the year 2000 the renovation of the ruins
started. A hiking trail now leads up the Schlossberg to the Griffen
castle ruins.
Miscellaneous
Inside the 130 m high Schlossberg
is the Griffen stalactite cave. The mountain consists of yellowish
limestone.
The cave was visited by humans since the stone age 30000 years ago. Diorama present visitors with the glimpse of that past. Besides human artifacts bones of mammoths, cave bears, cave lions and cave hyenas were uncovered in the here.
Open:
May-Jun: daily 9am-12pm, 1pm-5pm
Jul-Aug: daily 9am-5pm, Tue,
Thu 9am- 8:30pm.
Sep: daily 9am-12pm, 1pm-5pm.
Oct: daily
10am-11am, 1pm- pm.
Entrance: 8 Euro for adult ticket, 4 Euro for
the kids
Tours on the full hour, 5 pers. minimum, 20 pers.
maximum.