Burg Altpernstein: A Medieval Castle in Micheldorf, Austria

Visitor Information

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Official Website: www.burgaltpernstein.at

Country: Austria

Civilization: Unclassified

Remains: Military

History

Burg Altpernstein is a medieval castle situated in the municipality of Micheldorf in Austria. Its origins trace back to around the year 1000, constructed by early medieval settlers to control and defend the strategic rocky outcrop overlooking the Kremstal valley.

The earliest written records of the castle appear in 1160 and again in 1207, identifying it as a defensive stronghold during a time when threats from eastern neighbors were a concern. During the 12th century, the castle was linked to the noble ministeriales known as the Pillung von Pernstein, a family connected to the Otakare dynasty. From 1222 onward, ownership passed to the Truchsener family, who expanded their influence regionally amidst the instability following the extinction of the Babenberg dynasty.

In 1337, the castle was acquired by Eberhard V. von Walsee. Later, in 1394, Hans von Liechtenstein became lord of the stronghold but was imprisoned there after losing favor. By 1398, Burg Altpernstein came under Habsburg control, though the castle was frequently pledged or managed by nobles local to the area rather than directly ruled.

The 16th century saw the Jörger family take possession of the castle. Helmhard Jörger, who held the castle between 1578 and 1582, initiated extensive renovations that transformed the fortress into a Renaissance residence, marking a period of renewed prominence. The Jörgers were adherents of the Protestant Reformation and were active participants in the religious conflicts that swept through the region during that era.

Following the upheaval of the Thirty Years’ War, and especially after the flight of Karl Jörger, the castle was confiscated from the family. It briefly belonged to Adam Herberstorff before being sold in 1629 to the Kremsmünster Abbey, which retained ownership thereafter. Around 1692, as the threat from Ottoman forces diminished, the administrative center of the estate shifted to Neu-Pernstein in the valley below. Throughout the 17th century, the castle endured repeated damage from fires and lightning strikes, which eventually led to the partial dismantlement of its keep.

In the 20th century, Burg Altpernstein was repurposed as a hunting lodge before serving from 1946 to 2017 as a youth meeting facility managed by the Catholic Youth of Upper Austria. Since 2018, it has been leased to the Linz Institute for Social Competence and used as a family hotel and recreation site. The castle is protected by the Austrian Republic as a cultural monument under registration number 57922.

Remains

Burg Altpernstein is perched atop a rocky spur roughly 400 meters above the Kremstal valley, at an elevation near 800 to 900 meters. The natural fortification is formed by nearly vertical cliffs on three sides, with the fourth side defended by a neck moat, creating a highly defensible position. Access to the castle is provided by a sturdy stone bridge composed of three arches that crosses a deep rocky gorge. This stone bridge replaced an earlier wooden structure that once incorporated a drawbridge before the 18th century.

The castle’s main building extends lengthwise over four stories, capped with a steeply pitched gabled roof. Its many windows highlight the shift from a military fortress to a comfortable residential palace during the Renaissance renovations led by the Jörger family. Adjacent to this is the two-story eastern gatehouse, which still shows remnants of simple sgraffito—a decorative plaster technique—on its southern side. The gatehouse basement contains windowless cellars reached by a spiral staircase, offering secure storage.

One of the oldest parts lies in the western section, where the trapezoidal keep, known as the mastio, stands with plain stone walls. This keep includes a small tower that was adapted into a panoramic terrace, providing wide views of the surrounding landscape. Southern access was once protected by a secondary circular tower, linked via bastions and moats, reflecting concerns about potential attacks from that direction.

Within the castle, a compact inner courtyard reflects early Renaissance design and has undergone several reconstructions over time. At its heart is a marble fountain crafted from Tarvisian breccia, installed around 1607, which indicates the wealth and stature of the Jörger family at that time. Above the inner passage lies the castle chapel, notable for its vaulted ceilings adorned with elaborate stucco decorations from the 17th century. Inside the presbytery, coats of arms belonging to Count Adam Herberstorff and his wife Maria Salome von Preysing are displayed, linking the space directly to the period when Herberstorff briefly held ownership.

The chapel itself adjoins the trapezoidal keep and is backed by the visible masonry on the courtyard’s west side. The first floor of the main wing houses the Knights’ Hall, which features a dark, beamed ceiling dating to the late 18th century; local tradition holds that this ceiling was treated with bull’s blood for its preservation. The castle’s courtyard is historically significant for being exceptionally small compared to similar European sites. The outer gatehouse, once the innermost of three entrance gates, remains covered with ancient iron armor plates that have weathered more than three centuries.

In the late 20th century, around 1990, part of the natural rock supporting the baroque chapel was blasted to create a cold storage room. This intervention caused cracks that continue to pose a threat to the chapel’s structural integrity. Historically, the castle complex was associated with a large estate including sixteen farms, sixteen mills, and two taverns, though the mountainous terrain limited extensive agricultural development.

The castle’s roof is covered with larch wood shingles extending over an area of approximately 650 square meters, with the most recent renovation completed in 2006. Today, Burg Altpernstein contains eighteen renovated rooms alongside ten seminar and group spaces, complementing the Knights’ Hall and chapel. Public access is permitted to the terrace and tavern, and the surrounding area offers an archery range and climbing path as recreational amenities.