Schloss Ruegers: A Historic Castle in Riegersburg, Austria

Visitor Information

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Country: Austria

Civilization: Unclassified

Remains: Military

History

Schloss Ruegers is located in the municipality of Riegersburg in present-day Austria. The site traces its origins back to the medieval period, initially serving as a fortress utilized by the local nobility.

The first recorded mention of the property appears in 1212, associated with the Counts of Hardegg or their vassals. Throughout the 14th and early 15th centuries, further references to this stronghold emerge, notably in 1390 and 1427, indicating continued use and importance in the region. In 1441, ownership transferred to the von Eyczinger family, during whose tenure the fortress gradually deteriorated due to neglect.

A significant transformation occurred in 1568 when Sigmund, Count of Hardegg, acquired the ruin and commissioned the construction of a new moated castle. This redevelopment replaced the failing medieval structure, establishing a fortified residence and administrative center that reflected the needs and ambitions of its noble owner.

The estate remained in the hands of the Hardegg family as Johann Wilhelm von Hardegg, Sigmund’s son, expanded their holdings. However, his accumulation of debts led to financial collapse following his death in 1635. To address outstanding obligations, his successor Julius von Hardegg sold the territories of Riegersburg and Hardegg in 1656.

Subsequently, the Counts of Saint Julien-Wallsee took possession but disposed of the castle on August 1, 1730, selling it to Sigmund Friedrich von Khevenhüller, who had been granted the rank of Imperial Count in 1725. Upon acquiring the property, von Khevenhüller found the castle in a dilapidated state, likely unfit for residence.

Between 1730 and 1780, a major reconstruction took place following the designs of Franz Anton Pilgram, an architect trained by Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt. This careful rebuilding gave the castle its present Baroque character. A notable addition during this period was the chapel dedicated to Saint Sigismund in the north wing, which was consecrated in 1755.

During the closing months of World War II in 1945, the castle temporarily housed displaced persons from the nearby South Moravian region. Following this, Soviet forces occupied the premises until their withdrawal in 1955. This period saw the loss of much of the castle’s original interior, except for a stove installed in the master kitchen, which remains operational.

Further preservation efforts included partial renovations in 1993 related to a Lower Austrian State Exhibition themed “Family – Ideal and Reality.” From 2003 to 2016, Schloss Ruegers served as a venue for numerous art exhibitions organized by members of the Pilati von Thassul zu Daxberg family and others, hosting works by notable artists.

Ownership of Schloss Ruegers, together with Hardegg Castle, remained with the Counts Pilati von Thassul zu Daxberg until 2021 when the property was acquired by artist Gottfried Helnwein and real estate entrepreneur Klemens Hallmann.

Remains

The layout of Schloss Ruegers reflects its evolution from a medieval stronghold to a Baroque residence. Today’s structure stands on the site of the earlier fortress but primarily consists of buildings erected during the extensive 18th-century reconstruction carried out under the guidance of architect Franz Anton Pilgram.

One prominent feature is the chapel located within the castle’s north wing. This space, consecrated in 1755 and dedicated to Saint Sigismund, demonstrates the integration of religious function within the castle’s design during its Baroque phase.

Originally, the castle was surrounded by a moat, a defensive water-filled trench typical of fortified residences in the 16th century, constructed to replace the deteriorated medieval fortress. While details on the moat’s current condition are not specified, its presence played a crucial role in the castle’s defense during the period of its creation by Sigmund von Hardegg.

Inside the castle, the master kitchen retains a historical stove installed during the period of Soviet occupation after World War II. This element stands as a surviving piece of mid-20th-century modification amid broader losses of original interior fittings.

Schloss Ruegers is situated near several other historic structures and ruins, including Hardegg Castle, the ruin known as Kaja, Schloss Niederfladnitz, Schloss Fronsburg, and across the Czech border, Schloss Vranov nad Dyjí, linking it to a regional network of castles reflecting centuries of local aristocratic presence.

The castle and its buildings thus embody layers of construction and adaptation, bearing witness to its shifting roles from medieval fortress, noble residence, and administrative center to a modern cultural site.