Burgau Castle

The Lords of Puchheim are documented as the first owners of Burgau, holding the princely fief in 1367. However, the castle was probably built at the beginning of the 14th century in the water-rich floodplain. It soon became one of the most important border fortresses in Eastern Styria. During the Hungarian invasion of 1418, it successfully resisted.

In 1429, Wilhelm von Puchheim sold the fortress to his relatives Albrecht, Hans, and Georg von Neuberg. The following year, Emperor Frederick III granted the lordship to Albrecht von Neuberg. His family held the fief until 1460, after which, following their extinction, it remained with the Polheimers until 1565. Erhard von Polheim built the large outer bailey in 1538. He had previously received Burgau as a free allodial property.

In 1564, the heavily indebted lordship had to be mortgaged. A year later, Hans von Zelking inherited it, but immediately sold it to Mathias von Trauttmansdorf. His family provided the castle lords until 1753. In 1624, the main castle received its current appearance through a generous expansion. In 1753, Adam Graf Batthyány bought Burgau. In 1778, the high central tower of the castle was severely damaged during a storm and had to be demolished. The last noble owner was Ludwig Graf Batthyány, who played a leading role in the Hungarian Revolution in 1848, whereupon his estates were confiscated and declared state property.

In 1870, the castle came into the possession of the market town. Since 2000, the building has been renovated and revitalized. A part of the former moat has also been restored. While the municipal office is housed in the former residential castle and the arcaded courtyard and the ballroom serve cultural events, numerous residential units have been created in the outer bailey.