Arnstein Castle

The construction of the castle likely took place between 1136 and 1156. From the beginning, it was princely property. Under Duke Henry II of Babenberg, a Wichart de Arnsteine resided here in 1156. Karl von Eckartsau acquired the lordship with the castle in 1329. In 1355, Duke Albrecht II of Habsburg pledged it to Friedrich von Wallsee. In 1393, it was in the possession of the Inprucker family. In 1502, Wenzel von Winden was enfeoffed with Arnstein by Emperor Maximilian I.

Despite its hidden location, the castle was destroyed during the Turkish invasion of 1529. It was rebuilt and in the late 16th century was owned by the Herrenkirchner and Wolzogen families. The latter sold it in 1628. Josef Rechberger von Rechcron took over the lordship in 1693 as a pledged possession. He was also the pledge holder of the Neuhaus lordship, with which Arnstein remained connected until 1849. In 1835, the castle, which had long since become a ruin, fell to the Sina family and a year later to the Counts of Wimpfen.

In 1945, the forests around Arnstein were confiscated as German property by the Russian occupation forces. In 1955, they were returned to the Republic of Austria. Since then, they have been managed by the Austrian Federal Forests.