Horn Castle

Schloss Horn was built in the 18th century on the walls of the Puchheim family's castle from 1539. This manor house of the Puchheims was the center of the Protestant nobility in Lower Austria. Evidence of this older complex includes the Zwinger (outer bailey), the courtyard arcades, the square "Diebsturm" (Thieves' Tower), the Renaissance chimneys, and on the north side, the seat of the former regional court, the two-story arcaded walkways. In 1608, the Protestant estates united here to form the Horner Bund. After 1620, during the Counter-Reformation, the manor passed to the Catholic Counts of Kurz until the revolutionary year 1848, then in 1869 to the Sprinzenstein family, and subsequently to the Hoyos-Sprinzenstein family.

The current appearance of Schloss Horn is largely shaped by the Baroque period, but still incorporates significant elements of the earlier Renaissance castle. The impressive courtyard with its arcades and the historic "Diebsturm" are particularly noteworthy. The two-story arcaded walkways on the north side, which once housed the regional court, offer a glimpse into the building's diverse past.

A pivotal event in the history of Schloss Horn was the formation of the Horner Bund in 1608. Here, the Protestant estates of Lower Austria united to protect their religious freedom against the Catholic Habsburg rulers. This alliance played a significant role in the religious conflicts of the early 17th century and underscores the importance of Schloss Horn as a center of Protestantism in the region.

Today, Schloss Horn is privately owned and is a protected historic monument. It serves as a vivid reminder of the rich history of the Waldviertel and the eventful past of the Austrian nobility. The castle is not regularly open to the public, but its impressive architecture can be admired from the outside.