Anif Castle (Schloss Anif) description and photos - Austria: Anif (Topic)

Anif Castle (Schloss Anif) description and photos - Austria: Anif. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Schloss Anif.

Photo and description

Anif Castle stands on an artificial pond in the eponymous town of Anif on the southern outskirts of Salzburg. The exact date of the origin of the castle has not yet been established. It is known that in 1520 a castle already existed on this site, which belonged to a certain Praunenecker. But since 1530, Anif Castle has been constantly mentioned as a feudal allotment issued to the Archbishop of Salzburg. Later, the castle was transferred to the bishops from Chiemsee, who later used it as a summer residence until 1806. The last of the bishops laid out an English park around the castle.

In 1803, during the Germanic mediatization, the Archbishopric of Salzburg was turned into a kurfurche for Ferdinand III. Two years later, in 1805, under the terms of the Peace of Presburg, the territory of the Elector, which were previously an archbishopric, became part of the Austrian Empire. Thus, Anif Castle, together with the park, became public property.

Although the castle was rented from that moment, the tenants did not undertake any restoration. This changed when the property was sold to the great-grandson of Empress Maria Theresa, Count Alois Stepperg in 1837. He rebuilt Anif Palace between 1838 and 1848 in the New Gothic style, giving the castle a modern look. Until that time, it consisted of a simple four-story house and a two-story passage to the chapel.

After the death of the count in 1891, the castle passed into the ownership of his heiress Sophie, who married Count Ernst von Moy de Sons, from the old French aristocratic family.

In 1918, Anif attracted public attention, when King Ludwig of Bavaria III fled here with his family and entourage, fleeing the revolution. In the “Anif Declaration”, written on November 12/13, 1918, Ludwig III refused to abdicate, but he released all Bavarian officials, soldiers and officers from their oath.

During World War II, the Germans were stationed in castle, and then an American division in 1945.

Currently, Anif Castle is in the possession of the de Sons family. The castle is closed to the public.

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Topic: Anif Castle (Schloss Anif) description and photos - Austria: Anif.