Photos of the Formidable Medieval Forchtenstein Castle

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Photos of the Formidable Medieval Forchtenstein Castle Fortifications, Austria. Photos by photographer Paul E Williams.  (TIP – use the icons below the slideshow for thumbnail photos and info)

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Photos of the Formidable Medieval Forchtenstein Castle Fortifications, Austria.

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Photos of the formidable fortifications of the Medieval Forchtenstein Castle (Burg Forchtenstein), Bergenland Austria.

Foundation of Forchtenstein Castle

Forchtenstein Castle was built in the beginning of the 15th century by the Lords of Mattersburg who later became the Lords of Forchtenstein.

Forchtenstein Castle Black Tower

At the heart of the castle is a keep tower 50-metre (160 ft) high. Although this is known as the ‘Black Tower’ the black rock that originally lined the tower has since been stripped. The tower contains a 12-metre (40 ft) deep pit used as a prison cell for those condemned to death. Rezallia, the cruel wife of Lettus of Forchtenstein used this with great frequency; on the return of her husband from military service, she was herself sentenced to death in the tower by her husband.

Around 1450 the Lords of Forchtenstein died off due to lack of a male heir and the castle was passed over to the House of Habsburg, which owned it for 170 years. 

Forchtenstein Castle Given to Nikolaus Esterházy

In 1622 Nikolaus Esterházy, founder of the western Hungarian Esterházy line, received the Forchtenstein castle from Emperor Ferdinand II, and Esterházy became a Count. 

In the second half of the 17th century his son Paul Esterházy extended and ornamented the castle with architect Domenico Carlone.

Forchtenstein Castles Secret Treasure House

After Paul’s death the castle’s function changed. It became a repository for weapons, archives, chronometers, machines, exotic animal preparations and other “marvels”. The only access to the treasure vault was a secret passage leading to a door requiring two different keys used together. One key was kept by the Count Esterházy and the other by his treasurer who kept the treasury a secret

The treasure vault remained undiscovered and intact throughout World War II. The original glass-paned cabinets containing the collection are works of art in themselves.

Medieval Forchtenstein Castle Today

The castle is still owned by the Esterházy family and, together with Schloss Esterházy in Eisenstadt, it chronicles the history and treasures of this ancient aristocratic family.