Hardegg Castle is a medieval citadel situated over a town of Hardegg in Lower Austria. It stands on top of a strategic mountain at an elevation of 317 metres (1,040 feet) above sea level.
Location: Lower Austria Map
Open:
1 Apr- 15 Nov 9am- 5pm daily
July-Aug 9am- 6pm daily
Constructed: 11th century
Tel. 43(0)2949/8225
Museum of Emperor Maximilian of Mexico
Emperor Maximilian (1832- 1867)
Hardegg was first mentioned in a document by Elisabeth
von Schleunz in 1145, and "Otto de Hardeck" was cited as a witness to
the donation. However, there was already a small fortification. The
first owners were the Counts of Plain and Hardegg.
After this
family died out, the castle had various owners, such as the
Magdeburg-Hardeggers. Under them, the castle was significantly expanded
until it was one of the largest in the country. A tower, a palace and a
chapel were built. The castle served as the administrative center of the
county of Hardegg, which can be traced back to 1294. Towards the end of
the 15th century, the County of Hardegg was directly under the Empire.
The power of the lords of the castle was based on numerous knightly
retinues in the surrounding towns; The main towns in the county
administered from Hardegg were Pulkau and Retz, which was founded
between 1280/1305. After the death of the childless Michael, Imperial
Count of Hardegg and Burgrave of Magdeburg, the castle became the
property of the Habsburgs, who in 1499 gave it to the Magdeburg heirs,
the Prüschenk brothers, Barons of Stettenberg, Erbmundschenken ob der
Enns and Truchsessen in the Styria, pass on. At the same time, the two
were appointed Imperial Counts of Hardegg and Machland. In 1501, Ulrich
von Hardegg acquired the county of Glatz from his later brothers-in-law,
Karl and Georg von Münsterberg, and with it the title of Count of Glatz.
In 1502 Heinrich and Sigmund received the right to mint coins.
In
the middle of the 17th century, the castle changed hands again and came
into the possession of the Counts Khevenhüller, who took up their main
residence at Riegersburg Castle from 1730. Since then, the castle has
hardly been inhabited and has fallen into disrepair. During the fire in
the town of Hardegg in 1764, the residents were allowed to use stones
and wood from the castle to rebuild their houses.
From 1878,
Johann-Carl von Khevenhüller, who also became known as a comrade-in-arms
of Emperor Maximilian of Mexico against the troops of the republican
Mexican government, had the fortress rebuilt and a family crypt built
under the castle chapel. The plans for this were provided by Carl
Gangolf Kayser, who was imperial court architect in Mexico in the years
1864-1867. A museum was set up in the castle in honor of Emperor
Maximilian.
In the 20th century, the castle was inherited by the
Counts Pilati von Thassul zu Daxberg, who still own it, together with
Riegersburg Castle.
Film set
In 2014 Hardegg Castle was the
location for the TV historical film The Secret of the Midwife.
In
2018, the castle served as a filming location, along with others in the
Waldviertel, for the film Narziss und Goldmund, directed by Stefan
Ruzowitzky.
Vicinity
Neighboring castles and palaces are
Riegersburg Castle, Kaja Castle, Fronsburg Castle and in the Czech
Republic the Nový Hrádek (Neuhäusel) ruins.