Goldenstein Castle

At this location, two castles once stood. Almost nothing remains of the slightly higher Goldburg, while remnants of the lower and more favorably located Goldenstein Castle are still present. Both castles were within the dominion of the Counts of Görz.

The oldest record of the old Goldburg dates back to 1227. In a dispute between the castle owner and the Duke of Carinthia, the castle was partially destroyed. In 1250, the Görz ministerialis Hainricus de Goltpurch resided in the castle. In 1271, an Amelricus de Goltpurch is verifiable. In 1292, Alhaidis de Goltpurch resided here with his son Amelreich. The castle seemed to have existed for some time but fell into disrepair for unknown reasons.

Its successor was the more favorably located Goldenstein Castle. It was first mentioned in a document in 1359. However, the castle had existed for longer, as it had been pledged by the Görz family to the Flaschberg family and was redeemed in that year. In 1374, Mertel von Altenhoven resided at Goldenstein. Around 1390, the dominion, including the court, was sold to Friedrich von Ortenburg. In the struggle for the inheritance of the Counts of Cilli, the castle was captured and destroyed by Count Johann von Görz in 1459. After the Peace of Pusarnitz, the castle passed into the possession of the Habsburgs in 1460. Under Emperor Frederick III, Goldenstein was rebuilt. Thereafter, it was repeatedly pledged by the Habsburgs. For example, in 1496 to Simon von Ungersbach, followed by Simon Krell as pledge holder, and then Peter Graf zu Monsar.

At the beginning of the 16th century, Hans von Mandorff followed. At that time, the castle seemed to have already been in a state of decay, as a report from 1528 describes Goldstein as "abkhumen" (fallen into disrepair). In 1524, it was handed over to Gabriel von Salamanca along with the County of Ortenburg. In 1640, the Widmann brothers acquired the castle, which had already become a ruin, and sold it in 1662 to Ferdinand von Porcia, in whose family Goldenstein remained until 1918.