Ruins of the castle of Ortenburg (Ruine Ortenburg) description and photos - Austria: Lake Weissensee (Topic)

Ruins of the Ortenburg castle (Ruine Ortenburg) description and photos - Austria: Lake Weissensee. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Ruine Ortenburg.

Photo and description

The ruins of Ortenburg Castle are located in the village of Baldramsdorf, on the northern slope of Mount Goldeck, at an altitude of 740 meters above sea level. The Ortenburg Fortress is a powerful fortification with two drawbridges and several palaces with adjacent outbuildings. Interestingly, they were all built at different periods of time. A Romanesque fortress and Gothic fortifications have been preserved here. In the third courtyard of Ortenburg Castle, an old chapel, fortified towers and a manor's palace have survived to our time.

Ortenburg Castle was erected by order of a high-ranking nobleman Adalbert, probably in the 11th century, although the first mention of the castle is found in the annals of 1136 ... In 1348, a strong earthquake struck Carinthia, which caused the destruction of many castles. The fortress of Ortenburg was also damaged.

The owners of the castle of Ortenburg, which was the center of the powerful district of Carinthia, managed not to lose their lands until 1518.

In 1527, Gabriel von Salamanca-Ortenburg built a small building in Spital, where for a while only servants lived. Today we know this structure as the Lower Ortenburg Castle. Currently, it houses the Museum of Crafts of Carinthia.

In 1662, the Ortenburg estate was sold to the princes of Portia. After 28 years, the once majestic and inaccessible castle was destroyed due to a strong earthquake.

Since 1976, the ruins of Ortenburg castle have been available for visiting. The preservation of the historical site is ensured by the "Association of Ortenburg Helpers". Since 1995, the area on which the Ortenburg castle is located, belongs to a private person.

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Topic: Ruins of the castle of Ortenburg (Ruine Ortenburg) description and photos - Austria: Lake Weissensee.