Malenthein Castle

The name Mallentein appears for the first time in the urbarium of Greifenburg Castle from the year 1267. Whether this referred to a fortification cannot be proven. It was probably the naming of the hill on which the castle subsequently rose. In any case, the castle does not seem to have existed in the 13th century. In 1317, Duke Heinrich allowed the Carniolan Vice-dom Heinrich Graland to expand an already existing, undeveloped or dilapidated structure "Freudenstein" there. Whether this castle was built is not proven, but it can be assumed that this castle was the predecessor of the later Preißenegg Castle.

In 1330, Duke Heinrich enfeoffed Graland with the office of Hermagor and the fortress of Preißenegg, including its court. In 1335, his widow Elisabeth pledged the lordship to Count Albert III of Görz. The Counts of Görz then bought the lordship from the Gralands and pledged it in 1341 to Otto von Himmelberg. Görz ministerials subsequently resided at Preißenegg, such as Hans der Sebriacher and Ulrich von Obdach in 1373. At that time, the castle had been rebuilt. In 1375, Oswald von Mörderndorf was at the castle. In 1457, Count Johann von Görz granted Hans von Fresach and his son Balthasar the seat of Preißenegg for life. In the immediately following war between Emperor Friedrich III and the Görzers, the castle was conquered by Friedrich. Hans von Fresach was allowed to keep the fortress for life, but must have died soon after, as Leonhard Tschugoy was already acting as administrator in 1462 and Christoph Flaschberger in 1483.

In 1506, Emperor Maximilian I granted the fortress to Johann Geumann. His sister married Georg von Malenthein, whereupon Johann handed over Preißenegg, including the vogtei, to his brother-in-law. Under the Malentheins, the name of the castle changed to that of its new owners. Malenthein was probably also structurally redesigned. From then on, the castle remained with this family. In 1635, Christof von Malenthein zu Preißenegg still documented at Malenthein Castle, which was therefore still inhabited at that time. Subsequently, Preißenegg came to the Fromiller family. In 1773, Maria Anna Fromiller requested the enfeoffment with the Preißenegg estate. Here, there is no longer any mention of the seat of Preißenegg, as the castle was already in ruins around this time and had burned down in 1768 due to a lightning strike.

Furthermore, Preißenegg came to the Porcia family and in 1786 as a fief to Matthias Filzmeier. Further owners of the estate were Jakob Ronacher, Peter Roßbacher and Dr. Josef Hussa or his heirs.