Hohenburg auf Rosenberg Castle (Burgruine Hohenburg auf Rosenberg)

Location: Spittal an der Drau, Carinthia   Map

 

Description of Hohenburg auf Rosenberg Castle

Hohenburg auf Rosenberg Castle is situated on the outskirts of a municipality of Spittal an der Drau in an Austrian province of Carinthia. It dates back to the 12th century. Hohenburg auf Rosenberg Castle is a medieval citadel those ruins lie on a high ground overlooking Spittal an der Drau in Carinthia region of Austria. It was constructed in the 12th century as it was first mentioned in 1142 local deed. Hohenburg auf Rosenberg Castle was captured during a series of conflicts between Habsburg Emperor Frederick III and Counts of Gorz over lands left after death of Count Ulrich II of Celje. Troops of the Holy Roman Empire captured Hohenburg auf Rosenberg Castle and demolished its defenses so it won't be used again.

 

History

The Hohenburg was first mentioned in a document in 1375. Originally belonging to the Ortenburg family, Hohenburg came to the Counts of Cilli after their extinction in 1418. In 1455 Ulrich von Cilli pledged it to Duke Siegmund. In 1460 the castle fell to the Habsburgs by virtue of the Peace of Pusarnitz. Emperor Friedrich III enfeoffed a Georg Hauser with the castle. Emperor Maximilian I handed over the property in 1495, known as "Rosenbichl" to Andreas von Hohenburg. The castle was thus given the name "Hohenburg". When Heinrich von Hohenburg died in 1619, the inheritance fell to his daughter Elisabeth, née Aichelburg. She sold the rule, which was badly in debt, to Balthasar von Aschau.

In 1729, Baron von Sternbach acquired the Hohenburg, which finally passed to Anton Pichler, the postmaster of Oberdrauburg at the time, in 1842. In 1912, after the keep had partially collapsed, plans were made to rebuild the castle. However, World War I prevented this idea from being carried out. The castle has been owned by the market town of Oberdrauburg since 1975 due to a donation from the Pichler family. The castle was partially rebuilt through private initiative and with the support of the municipality. It is both a monument and a center for various cultural events.