Reichenfels Castle

The upper Lavanttal belonged to the Diocese of Bamberg since the middle of the 11th century. The first documented mention of Reichenfels dates back to a dispute between the diocese and the Carinthian Duke Bernhard von Spanheim. In 1227, he had the castle occupied to seize the silver mines.

After the intervention of Pope Gregory IX and Emperor Frederick II, the Duke renounced the silver mines and the "castrum Richenvelse", which was taken over again by the bishops with its former vassal Wichard von Karlsberg. In the following centuries, the diocese almost exclusively appointed administrators or castellans to manage the castle.

In 1288, a burgrave Eberhardus is mentioned, and in 1358, Wulfing von Ehrenfels. Since 1557, Reichenfels has been referred to as a castle. In 1759, Empress Maria Theresia acquired the castle from the Bambergers. It was later administered by the Religious Fund. Emperor Franz II (I) mortgaged it in 1810 to various Viennese banks. Reichenfels was sold in 1826 to the Rosthorn brothers. From them, Hugo Graf Henckel von Donnersmarck acquired it in 1846. Between 1929 and 1933, Olga Duchess of Leuchtenberg owned Reichenfels. From her, the company HESPA in Lucerne acquired it. In 1998, the forest estate with the ruin passed to the Brandner company.