Ehrenfels Castle

Ehrenfels Castle is located in the municipality of Sankt Radegund bei Graz in the Styrian district of Graz-Umgebung.

Ehrenfels Castle was probably built at the beginning of the 13th century by Otto II of Graz, a ducal-Babenberg ministerialis who called himself "von Ehrenfels" in 1229. Perhaps there was already a predecessor building. The complex controlled the "Römerweg", a heavily frequented road. In 1277, the castle was owned by the brothers Heinrich, Wulfing, and Otto von Ehrenfels, sons of Otto von Trennstein.

From the end of the 13th century, the Lords of Ehrenfels served as ministeriales to the Bishops of Bamberg in Carinthia, where they created another "Ehrenfels House" in St. Leonhard from 1373 and attained high offices (see Ehrenfels Castle (Bad St. Leonhard)). With the death of Hans von Ehrenfels in 1442, the family died out.

However, the new owner of the Styrian castle complex had been Konrad von Kraig since 1424. In 1449, the lordship changed hands and from then on belonged to Hans von Stubenberg. After the administrative seat was moved to Stubegg and Gutenberg, the uninhabited castle fell into ruin. Already in 1730, it was referred to as such. The Stubenbergers remained the owners of Ehrenfels Castle until the 19th century.

Restoration began in 1964, and parts were made habitable again. Ehrenfels Castle is privately owned.