Location: Carinthia
Geiersberg Castle is a rock castle in Friesach in Carinthia in Austria. It stands on a steep rocky outcrop at the north end of town. The rocky peak drops steeply on three sides, only in the west does a flat saddle lead to the Krewenze, from there an almost level path leads to the castle. The facility is privately owned and cannot be entered.
The original construction of the complex is estimated to be in the year 1130, the time of Archbishop Konrad I of Salzburg. The castle was first mentioned in a document in 1271. The keep was part of the suburban fortifications. Since the 13th century the castle has been connected to the vicedom's office. After a fire in 1690, Johann Andrä Auer received the castle as a fief from the Archbishop of Salzburg, Johann Ernst, and had it repaired. Several changes of ownership followed and since 1750 the castle was uninhabitable. In 1912 the castle was extensively restored in the style of historicism and the west wing was rebuilt. More restoration work and structural changes have also taken place in recent times.
The rectangular core castle from the first half of the 13th century
with a mighty keep stands on the crest of the rock. The residential
building from the early 20th century adjoins on the north side. From the
Palas from the early 13th century on the north-eastern flank, only low
walls have survived. The first complex was surrounded to the north, west
and south by a second ring wall from the second half of the 13th
century, with a cornered, originally open shell tower in the west and a
tower in the south corner that was converted into a chapel in the early
14th century.
Living quarters
The residential wing was built
in 1911-1912 in a historicizing style and rebuilt shortly thereafter in
1935 by Helmar Temajer. Since then there have been further renovations
by subsequent owners.
Tower
In the former southern corner of
the stronghold is the mighty six-storey keep with a square floor plan.
The regular quarry stone masonry was built in the first half of the 13th
century. The building has historicizing biforia windows on the upper
floors on the east and south fronts; only the original light slits with
reveal edges framed by light blocks date from the first half of the 13th
century. The Renaissance wooden balcony was only added in 1912.
Outer ring
The outer ring consists of quarry stone masonry from the
second half of the 13th century and was completely renovated in 1912 and
equipped with rectangular battlements. In the first quarter of the 14th
century, the castle was integrated into the suburban fortifications as a
northern bulwark and another wall was built running to the south-west.
The shell tower was originally open on one side, but was walled up in
1912. The rectangular windows with orthostatic jambs are still partially
in their original condition.
Gate tower and chapel of Saint Anna
At the end of the 15th and beginning of the 16th century, the upper
floor of the tower protruding at the southern corner of the bering with
a former rectangular ground plan was rebuilt into a chapel with an
irregular ⅜ ending. Today's passage through the tower, the substructure
for access to the chapel and the arched portal date from the beginning
of the 16th century. The chapel has frescoes from the beginning of the
16th century. Crucifixion group is depicted on the east wall. The Mother
of God and Saint Elizabeth can be seen on the south-east wall. The
representations on the south wall each have two bishops and knights, the
three of Saint Anne with Saint Joseph and a half-length figure of Saint
Catherine. The frescoes have been greatly altered by overpainting and
were restored in 1954. The high altar was made around 1670. The slightly
concave altar wall is divided by niches and twisted columns entwined
with vine leaves. The antependium is laterally limited by herm-like
volute pilasters with angel heads.
Bailey
The outer bailey
consists largely of irregular quarry stone masonry from the first
quarter of the 14th century. It partially collapsed in the south-west
and was rebuilt in 1970. The outer bailey has a simple arched gate near
the southern corner and on the southwest front and a shell tower
protruding from the wall alignment in the southwest.