Metnitz Castle

The castle, whose construction date is unknown, was granted as a fief by the Bishops of Gurk. It was first mentioned in a document in 1173, when Bishop Heinrich III was staying "apud Motnitz in novo castro". Since a new castle is mentioned here, it remains open whether an older castle existed alongside it or whether it was only built at this time.

In 1181, the noble family of the Lords of Metnitz, which still exists today, was mentioned for the first time. In 1285, Bishop Hernit of Gurk granted the castle guard of Metnitz as a service fief to Chraft von Metnitz and his brother Heinrich. However, disagreements arose between the liege lords and the vassals. In 1293, Chraft and Heinrich of Metnitz returned their service fief to the Bishop of Gurk.

The Metnitz family must have been enfeoffed with the lordship again after its return, because in 1301 the brothers Friedrich and Heinrich von Metnitz had captured three citizens of the city of Steyr. In 1302, the Metnitz family was sentenced to a heavy fine for this act at the request of Bishop Heinrich. Since the Metnitz family could not or would not pay the sum, Duke Rudolf III of Austria ordered the destruction of Metnitz Castle. The castle was shelled until it was ready for assault, stormed, and razed to the ground.

Subsequently, there seems to have been a reconciliation between the Bishops of Gurk and the Metnitz family, because Heinz von Metnitz renounced his rights "to the stone and castle hill at Metnitz" for 40 marks of silver. In 1317, Hermann von Metnitz also renounced his rights to the "stone house at Metnitz and to the castle hill" for 55 marks of silver. Accordingly, a fortified building must have been erected again after the complete destruction. This is also supported by the fact that in 1330 Wilhelm von Metnitz sold five farmsteads below the house at Metnitz to his liege lord Bishop Gerold von Gurk. Documents from 1341 and 1349 also speak of a "tower at Metnitz".

The Metnitz family was still wealthy in and around Metnitz around 1448. In the 17th century, the new castle was already in ruins; Valvasor described it only as a ruin. The ruin and the adjacent Calvary Chapel are today owned by the parish of Metnitz.