Die Schlösserstrasse - Castle Road

Austrian Castle and Palace Belt Experience a journey through the Styrian-Burgenland-Slovenian-North Croatian past and present on the Castle Road, which presents a charming side in every season. 41 castles and palaces invite you to go on a journey of discovery. The old walls of these mighty bulwarks and fortifications are venerable witnesses to a great past and eventful history of the border region - from the Middle Ages to modern times. During the threatening Turkish invasions, a dense wall of castles was built along the eastern border of the Styrian March in the 12th century. Many of them were later converted into palaces, several are still well preserved, and in some, guests can reside royally today. In the midst of the Styrian "Wechselgau", Festenburg castle thrones on a densely wooded rocky spur that slopes steeply on three sides. The castle was founded by the Lords of Stubenberg; in 1616, Vorau Abbey bought Festenburg and transformed the medieval fortified castle into a "monastery castle". The library in the Augustinian Canons' Monastery of Vorau is particularly worth seeing. Aichberg Castle, which also dates from the 12th century, was brought to its current state by a master builder from the Carlone school. Pöllau Castle, a former moated castle located in the middle of the Pöllauertal Nature Park, is a magnificent Baroque building. Today, the castle is used in many ways for concerts, exhibitions, and festivities. Schielleiten Castle, considered the most important Styrian castle building of the late Baroque and probably the "sportiest" of all castles, is situated amidst extensive park and garden grounds. As the location of the Schielleiten Federal Sports and Leisure Center, numerous training opportunities are embedded in the castle park, including a swimming pond. Sports make you tired, but that too is taken care of: overnight stays are possible both in the castle and in some outbuildings. Another accommodation tip in Stubenberg am See is Neuhaus Castle, which offers three suites for summer visitors. In the center of Hartberg, which is one of the best-preserved old towns in Styria, lies Hartberg Castle. The former medieval castle was converted into a palace in the Renaissance style and expanded in the 17th century with an arcaded wing. Proud and mighty, the over 850-year-old Riegersburg castle thrones on the rocks of a volcanic mountain. The imposing structure was never conquered - until the tourists came. Today, Riegersburg can be conquered either on foot via the picturesque path, marked by centuries, through the castle gates and along the fortification walls, or in just 90 seconds via the inclined elevator on the north side of the castle. The ascent is rewarded with an impressive view either way. Secretly hidden in the wild romantic landscape of the Feistritzklamm gorge lies Herberstein Castle, which combines Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque in one of the most beautiful noble estates in Styria and impressively tells its 700-year family history. The magnificent historical castle gardens alone, which were revitalized in the late 90s, are worth a visit. Also interesting is the Siegmundsgarten, which presents an excerpt from the history of garden design and shows the development of garden art in a cross-section of centuries. The comital Obermayerhofen Castle near Bad Waltersdorf not only has an excellent reputation as a wedding castle. The stylish castle hotel has an excellent restaurant and a beautiful arcaded courtyard. Fürstenfeld's Pfeilburg served a completely different purpose: from 1694, it housed the first Austrian tobacco factory. The oldest secular building in the city has the only medieval defensive tower in Styria. The Fürstenfeld Fortress Trail is also located here. At Welsdorf Castle, the garden castle above the spa capital Fürstenfeld, extraordinary celebrations and dream weddings can be held. In addition, the Sadnik family offers you the fascinating experience of being castle lords for a time. In Feldbach is the Tabor, which houses the Heimat.Museum (local history museum). The largely original, historical defensive complex offers 1,400 m² of exhibition space for exhibits from various collections. A few kilometers north of Feldbach is Kornberg Castle, a Renaissance castle with a defensive character from the 17th century. Part of the complex is the famous Andrea Chapel. Knight's dinners are held at Kornberg Castle - entertainment for guests is provided by minnesingers and tower trumpeters, among others. Kapfenstein Castle, a former fortified castle from the 11th century, has been owned by the Winkler-Hermaden family since 1898 and today represents a meeting point for connoisseurs. Behind the thick walls of the castle is a small, cozy hotel with a lot of charm. The lands, which lie on the slopes of the extinct volcanic cone, are largely used for viticulture today. In the "Löwenkeller", Georg Winkler-Hermaden and his sons press wines of international caliber. South of it lies the spa town of Bad Gleichenberg, which stands for peace and relaxation. Around the historic town, a fantastic, gently rolling cultural landscape invites you to enjoyable hiking and culinary delights. The holistic recreation of body and mind can be rounded off in the "Therme der Ruhe" (Thermal Spa of Tranquility) of Bad Gleichenberg. The southernmost tip of Styria is formed by the historic old town of Bad Radkersburg, which was awarded the European Gold Medal for monument preservation. The 700-year history is palpable in almost every corner: from the main square with its Renaissance facades to the Gothic parish church, from the museum in the old armory to the Palais Herberstorff with its