Hautzenbichl Castle

Hautzenbichl Castle is located in the municipality of Kobenz on the eastern edge of the city of Knittelfeld and is privately owned by the Pranckh family.

Hautzenbichl was first mentioned in a document in 1086. The owner at that time was Margrave Adalbero of Styria. He donated his property "apud Huzinpuchli" (Hugo's hill) and other estates to Archbishop Gebhard of Salzburg to buy himself free from excommunication, as he had seized church property. The bishop then donated the estate to his favorite monastery, Admont.

Around the year 1150, the noble Meginhalm von Hucenpuhelen appeared. At that time, today's castle was still a fortified farm, surrounded by walls and a moat, and partly served as a road blockade. These Lords of Hautzenbichl, who often acted as ministeriales of Admont Abbey, are believed to have died out around 1326.

From 1160, Hautzenbichl belonged to Seckau Abbey. This usually granted the estate as a fief.

In the 14th and 15th centuries, Hautzenbichl was expanded into a fortified building by the ministerial family of the Lobmingers. However, this fell into disrepair over time. Between 1540 and 1542, the property was acquired by Joachim Muerer. He had it rebuilt in the Renaissance style in 1542. It is assumed that Muerer commissioned a French architect from the Loire to build it. This also implies that it is a copy of the architectural style of the Loire castles.

In 1680, Hautzenbichl fell to Provost Maximilian Ernst Graf von Gleispach. On his behalf, extensive renovation work was carried out on the castle. His coat of arms still adorns the castle's facade today.

In 1735, all fortifications around the castle were removed. After Emperor Joseph II had Seckau Monastery dissolved around 1782, the ownership of Hautzenbichl also passed to the state's religious fund.

In 1809, the Vordernberger Radmeisterkommunität acquired the castle. Later, a Katharina Reicher was listed as the owner. In 1870, her son-in-law Franz Forcher von Einpach appeared as the lord of the castle. In 1883, Hautzenbichl fell to the Counts Vetter von der Lilie. The current lady of the castle is Maria, née Countess Vetter von der Lilie (* 1932 in Hautzenbichl Castle), married Pranckh (⚭ 1954 Pilgrim; 1923 - 2013). Pedigree dogs are bred on the castle grounds.