Schallaun/Luegg (Puxerloch) Castle

The two cave castles Luegg and Schallaun, popularly known as Puxerloch, are two of the few remaining cave castle ruins in Austria. Both castles formed a defensive unit.

Schallaun Castle was first mentioned in a document in 1181. In that year, a "Marchward de Schalvun" named himself after it. Later, Schallaun Castle, equipped with a keep and fishing rights, was owned by the Saurau family until 1472. They were followed by the Liechtensteiner family of Obermurau. From 1481 to 1490, Schallaun Castle was occupied by Hungarian troops. In 1578, the castle, already connected with the dominion of Pux, appears to be in the possession of the Prankh family. Schallaun Castle is no longer accessible today, or only with alpine equipment.

In the 12th century, the "Puxer Loch" was mentioned as the seat of the Lords of Lueg. In the 13th and 14th centuries, the castle was owned by the Teufenbacher family. In the 15th century, the "House called Lueg, also Pux" was a Cillier fief, partly owned by the Puxer and partly by the Teufenbacher, who also appeared as fief holders in the 16th and 17th centuries. Administratively, Luegg was connected with the dominion of Neu-Teufenbach. In 1769, Carl Graf Lengheim, and in 1820, Alois Graf Trautmannsdorf received the princely fief over the already dilapidated castle.

In the 18th century, the two cave castles were cleared by soldiers from Hungary, which also contributed to further destruction of the facilities. Nevertheless, Luegg Castle was inhabited until the 19th century. In the 19th century, a gang of robbers had also nested in the castles. This was the reason to finally destroy the complex, which until then had been quite well preserved.