Auhof Castle

The medieval noble seat was located slightly elevated behind the present castle. Around 1530, it included eleven cultivated overland estates, five farms and small houses in Audorf, orchards, ponds, a tavern, a forge, a mill, the manor farm with stables and barns, 58 Tagwerk of arable land, 55 Tagwerk of meadows, and a woodlot.

The recreation area of the Baumgartenberg monks consisted of a three-story, rectangular building (construction began in 1568) with a bay tower and the chapel (St. Bernhard, after 1667) projecting from the south-east front. A predecessor building, formerly referred to as "old castle," remained part of the manor farm but is barely recognizable after renovations. In 1693, the new castle completely burned down and was rebuilt as a four-story building.

The current simple, early historicist facade dates from a further extensive expansion and renovation between 1860 and approximately 1882 by Friderike von Pfisterer. At that time, the corner tower of the original complex, which had survived the fire of 1693, was also demolished. In its place, a three-story, five-sided, tower-like annex with a flat tent roof was erected at the southeast corner. The late historicist interior furnishings are largely preserved, especially wooden coffered ceilings and wall paneling. In the library, four stained-glass windows with portraits of the writers Dante Alighieri, Ferdinand Gregorovius, Lord George Gordon Byron, and Anastasius Grün bear the year 1884.

The large, largely freestanding church now features a square roof turret with an onion dome. The church portal, adorned with acanthus stucco (late 17th century), is preserved. Two Neo-Renaissance stained-glass windows (from 1900) depict saints with the facial features of deceased family members. The prayer stalls date from the late 17th century. A wrought-iron grille from the mid-17th century also survived the fire and subsequent reconstruction. The coat of arms of Abbot Bernhard Breil is affixed to the two-armed outdoor staircase on the garden side.

In the large park lies the neo-Gothic crypt chapel, built by Linz master builder Otto Schirmer in 1884/86 for Friderike Pfisterer. It features a cross-ribbed vault and a large stained-glass window on the east wall depicting a crucifixion group and the coat of arms of the Pfisterer-Mayrau from 1885. The garden and English landscape park are enclosed by a wall. On its northwest side, a small round tower from the 16th century with a conical roof and loopholes still stands. The castle includes a manor farm and a granary.

In 1945, the property was severely devastated and stripped of its furnishings. The building, restored from 1955 onwards, serves as a residence and estate administration. The buildings are in need of renovation. In 1975, the castle chapel was re-consecrated after extensive renovation.