Hochosterwitz Castle, Austria

The Hochosterwitz Castle is a medieval castle located on a 160 metres (525 feet) high Dolomite rock east of the town Veit an der Glan, in Carinthia, Austria. The original castle was built in the 9th century and was first mentioned in written sources in year 860.



Until the middle of the 12th century was the castle in possession of the Archbishopric of Salzburg afterwards it passed to the cup-bearer of Osterwitz as a fief. After the death of the last cup-bearer of Osterwitz in 1578 was the possession of the Hochosterwitz Castle reverted to the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick III. In 1541 Holy Roman Emperor, Ferdinand I pawned it to the governor Christopf Khevenhüller. In 1571 was the Hochosterwitz Castle bought by Baron George Khevenhüller who refortified and rebuilt it in its present appearance. Since then is the castle in possession of Khevenhüller family but it is open to the public from April to October. In 1994 was the Hochosterwitz Castle also inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage sites.