Burg Vichtenstein

The Vicht Steinburg

The Vicht stone castle rises high above the Danube valley visible in Sauwald in Upper Austria in the community Vichtenstein, compared to the market town of upper cell in Lower Bavaria.

History

The origins of the castle is documented not secure; it is assumed that the castle was probably built around 1100 and belonged to the county Formbach. The first mention is found in 1116 with the Count of Formbach Castle Vornbach, also called " of Vichtenstein " called themselves. Perhaps the late 1090 Henry II of Formbach was the builder of the first castle.

Hedwig of Vichtenstein of the race of shape Bacher had brought her husband Engelberg Count Hall and Wasserburg Wasserburg on the rule Vichtenstein as dowry when her family of origin was extinguished in the name of vehicle trunk. Her grandson Konrad undertook in 1218 to participate in a crusade to liberate the Holy Land from infidels. Bishop Ulrich of Passau lent him for equipment and travel costs 6,000 silver marks on the condition that its ownership falls to the bishopric of Passau, if he does not return or remain childless. Konrad Graf von Hall ( = Bad Reichenhall ) and Wasserburg (at the Inn) returned, married and took his wife to the mistress of the castle Vichtenstein. As the Diocese of Passau refused to give back the castle, there was a feud between him and the bishops of Passau. As feuding knight he locked the Danube and raised donations from by traveling merchants.

This made for Count Konrad von Hall and Wasserburg excommunication by the Roman Catholic Church, and at times of the Empire. 1224, there was a comparison was awarded after the Count Konrad of the Palas Vichtenstein Castle. The keep of the nurses of the diocese of Passau was established and oversaw the manorial system and their income. After more than 25 years of armed resigned Count Conrad in 1245 and renounced definitively in favor of the diocese of Passau on the Vichtenstein Castle and the corresponding basic rule that extended to the border of Bohemia. In the peace negotiations 1244/45 Bishop Rüdiger von Bergheim and Konrad Graf von Hall and Wasserburg agreed that the castle Vichtenstein completely went against an additional payment of 100 marks of silver in the possession of the Bishop of Passau.

The bishops of Passau left the castle, which they pledged in money demand also administered by nurses or viscount. The Passau municipal judge Andreas Haller was 1367 mortgage holder of the castle, but also the leader of the citizens of Passau uprising against the rule of the bishop. After the defeat of citizenship he sold the castle to the Knights of Friedrich Puchberg. This in turn drew a multi-year feud over the ownership by itself. The bishop decided, as he stood in 1370 before the financial ruin to pledge the Vicht Steinburg and the corresponding basic rule of the nobles of Schaubergwerk. After the defeat of Schauberger against Duke Albrecht III. of Austria came Vichtenstein back to the bishopric of Passau back, in which it remained until the secularisation on 3 January 1803 and came into the possession of Austria. The Vicht stone castle and the land were sold to private investors, and came after the abolition of serfdom in 1848 in 1868 in the possession of the Counts of Pacht. The current owners acquired the castle and the dominions thereunto belonging from the estate of PACHTAS. In the last months of World War II in May 1945 and the subsequent time the castle was a camp for displaced persons and refugees. The castle is owned by Dipl. -Ing. Klaus Schulz- Wulkow and can not be visited.

Vichtenstein Castle today

The castle is located above the right bank of the Danube on a steep mountain slope above the village Vichtenstein. The castle was inhabited in unbroken succession. This area of the castle was rebuilt through the ages often and renovated.

On the narrow ridge which forms the connection from the castle to the foreland, a massive high Romanesque tower rises. The oldest parts of the castle are the single keep and the gatehouse. Access to the tower via a brick bridge that leads to the gate tower with pointed arch and the overlying roles for a previously existing drawbridge. The two square residential towers have emerged in the 15th or 16th century. After the gatehouse is the elongated front yard, which is bordered on both sides by walls. After a sharp bend, the actual courtyard opens. The residential and commercial buildings are based on the circular wall. This is amplified by towers that were used to Seitenbestreichung.

From an art historical importance is the Holy Hippolytus of Rome consecrated chapel, which was built in the 14th century and enlarged in the 17th century. The interior of the chapel has a ribbed vault with figural keystones.

More images

Vichtenstein Castle: entrance

Vichtenstein Castle: Tower courtyard

Vichtenstein Castle: courtyard

Vichtenstein Castle: Castle Chapel