Pernegg Castle

The castle was probably built in the second half of the 11th century by the Counts of Pernegg. These likely descended from a female collateral line of the Babenbergs. It is first mentioned in a document in 1112. The first known lord of the castle appears as "Oudalricus de Pernece" in 1120. Ulrich II of Pernegg founded the nearby monastery around 1153.

In 1188, the Pernegg foundations were handed over to the Bishop of Passau. The last Pernegg is referred to as a "fool and madman." With him, the lineage died out in 1230. Afterwards, Duke Leopold VI confiscated the lordship. In 1238, Pernegg fell to King Przemysl Ottokar, but after his death, it reverted to the sovereign prince. In the course of the 14th century, the fortified building lost its military significance, but was still inhabited in 1314. Before 1432, the Abbot of Geras had the already heavily ruined castle refortified to protect the monastery from the Hussites, but it was demolished in 1448 so that it could not serve as a base for marauding mercenary bands. The still usable material was used for the expansion of the monastery. In 1505, Pernegg is already described as desolate. However, the chapel remained preserved and was redesigned into the Lourdes Chapel in 1902 as part of its renovation.