Burgruine Katzenstein, Erl: A Medieval Border Defence Tower in Austria
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4.2
- Popularity
- Very Low
- Country
- Austria
- Primary era
- Medieval
- Eras represented
- Medieval
- Civilizations
- Holy Roman Empire
- Site type
- Military
- Remains
- Tower
On this page7 sections
History
Burgruine Katzenstein, Erl, is the ruin of a late-medieval defensive tower in Austria, probably begun around 1392 as part of the Windhausen border fortification. Built on a slope above the Inn Valley, it protected the frontier after the Kufstein judicial district passed to the Duke of Bavaria-Ingolstadt, in opposition to the territory of the Duke of Bavaria-Munich. By 1420 at the latest, the tower formed part of the border defences.
From Windhausen outpost to Tyrolean frontier
The tower was known historically as the Kaiserturm zu Windhausen and by the variant name Kayserthurm zu Windhausen. After the Landshut War of Succession of 1504 to 1505, a conflict that altered territorial control in the region, Tyrol assumed authority over the courts of Kitzbühel, Kufstein, and Rattenberg. The Windhausen tower consequently became Tyrol’s northernmost outpost and an important part of its northern border defence.
Its military role continued through later European conflicts. The position was successfully defended in 1611 and during the Thirty Years’ War, fought across Europe from 1618 to 1648. A drawing from 1623 shows a palisade, or defensive fence made from upright stakes, together with a gate and gatehouse around the tower.
Conflicts and abandonment
During the War of the Spanish Succession, a European conflict fought from 1701 to 1714, Tyrolean militia and regular troops held the tower for several days during fighting in June 1703. The defences were strengthened before the War of the Austrian Succession, which lasted from 1740 to 1748. On 3 November 1744, Tyrolean militia fought prolonged engagements at the position and repelled a Bavarian incursion.
A drawing made in 1777 depicts a blockhouse above the tower, serving as a high-watch post, or elevated lookout. After 1782, the Windhausen fortification was abandoned. All its installations except the tower were demolished, although the site was attacked again during the winter of 1800 to 1801.
On 12 May 1809, French and Bavarian troops, supported by allied Saxon forces, attacked and captured the tower. According to the local account, the Tyrolean defenders withdrew into the mountains only after exhausting their ammunition. The tower was subsequently destroyed.
Names and traditions
The name Burgruine Katzenstein became common only in the nineteenth century. Earlier names connected the site with Windhausen, while another later name was Ruine Todtenschlößl. Local legends explain the name Katzenstein in different ways. One tells of a wine-loving Lord Katz of Katzenstein who ended his life after suffering unrequited love. Another links the downfall of the site to a castle lord who drank one hundred cups of Etschland wine, meaning wine from the Adige region, on Holy Night, the night of Christmas, and says that a cat appears there every seven years. Historically, the site was a defensive tower rather than a castle. The ruin is protected as a listed monument in Austria.
Remains
The defensive tower
The ruin stands on an eastern slope at the foot of the Kranzhorn, above the hamlet of Schwaigen and approximately 50 metres above the Inn. Its position overlooks the Inn Valley. Built of rubble stone, the tower has a square ground plan and was originally designed as a three-storey structure. The former ground floor is now buried.
Beam holes in the surviving masonry mark the levels of the former storeys. Irregular openings preserve the positions of former windows and loopholes. The northwest corner has completely collapsed, leaving the tower in a fragmentary condition.
Border fortification remains
North of the tower are the remains of a blocking ditch and an earthwork belonging to the former Windhausen border fortification. The 1623 drawing places a palisade, gate, and gatehouse in association with the tower. The later drawing from 1777 adds a blockhouse above it, used as a high-watch post within the defensive system.
