Krottenhof Manor

The Krottenhof, formerly also called Lainachhof and Plattlhof, is a Graz noble court located at the intersection of Krottendorfer Straße and Grottenhofstraße in the Strassgang district. Its history dates back to the 14th century. Today, parts of the Agricultural and Forestry College Alt-Grottenhof are located in the buildings of the court.

In 1360, a large and a small court are mentioned in the urbarium of Admont Abbey in the village of Krottendorf, which belongs to St. Martin Castle. The larger court, the Plattlhof, was sold to Johann von Paar in 1490 and freed from subservience by Archduke Ferdinand. Johann von Paar named the noble court "Krottenstein". In 1622, his descendant Rudolf Freiherr von Paar sold the court together with some other estates located in the Graz field to Prince Johann Ulrich von Eggenberg. However, Freiherr von Paar continued to pay the property tax for the possessions without his knowledge until 1635 after the sale. After 1635, the court again became a rural estate and was called "Lainachhof".

At the beginning of the 18th century, Johann Caspar Mejak acquired the court and rebuilt it into a noble court. His widow sold the estate to St. Lambrecht Abbey in 1738. After the dissolution of the abbey in 1786, the court passed into civilian hands. In 1869, the State of Styria bought the estate to house an agricultural school there.