To be privately owned
CastleGunskirchen-Irnharting
Irnharting Castle
Irnharting Castle is a former moated castle in the village of Irnharting in the Upper Austrian market town of Gunskirchen, Wels-Land district.
On August 14, 1349, the "House ze Yermhärting" was first mentioned. It was owned by Ulrich von Thann. In 1399, Bishop Georg von Passau granted Irnharting as a fief to Hans Meurlin and his heirs. Wolf Oberheimer owned Irnharting in the second half of the 15th century. In 1479, ownership of Irnharting passed to the Polheimer family and in 1551 to Baron Alexander Schifer. However, the magnificent moated castle was devastated and plundered during the Peasants' Wars and came into the possession of Baron Johann Paul Spindler in 1632. He had the castle and chapel completely restored. Around 1750, Irnharting already had 240 subjects. The castle remained in the possession of Count Spindler and his heirs. The last ruler was Count Maximilian Spindler. In 1805, the dominion of Irnharting passed to the Religious Fund, from which Josef von Plachner acquired it in 1806. After he had run it down, it was auctioned to Julius von Schmelzing in 1827. This family kept the property until 1873, followed by Friedrich Steininger, who, however, sold the property to Karl Uitz four years later. From him, the Fischer von Ankern family acquired the castle. Today it is owned by Josef Fischer-Ankern from Lower Austria, who lives in the manor house and uses the three-sided farmstead as an outbuilding.
Description+
Exterior
The castle consists of two building complexes, which formerly stood on two islands in a large pond. The pond has disappeared except for insignificant remnants.
In 1533, the tower and a three-sided courtyard were built, which was open on one side and was still divided into rental apartments in the 18th and 19th centuries. The front castle complex with the tower was a three-winged building; the front wing is now empty, the attached wings served as a farmyard. The tower stands approximately in the middle of the front wing, with its base developed as a gate hall. Originally, this was the only access to the castle. A brick bridge spans the moat to the former moated castle.
The second castle wing, formerly also a horseshoe-shaped complex, was closed and roofed over by alterations. This manor house was built in 1640. Today it represents the actual inhabited castle, the rear castle complex was almost completely destroyed, later converted into two large halls for the annual Irnharting cider tasting. In 1762, a three-gabled barn was built, which has now been converted for a company that produces biomass, including wood chips. The coat of arms of the Counts Spindler can still be seen on the manor house today. Slightly outside the village stands the Irnharting Castle Church, the so-called mausoleum, where all former owners are buried.
In the Rogation Week of 1865, almost the entire castle burned down due to carelessness. The castle tower was most severely damaged. The tower originally had a baroque dome, after its destruction by fire, the tower was fitted with a hip roof, the clock and bells were removed, and the height of the tower was reduced. In recent years, only the manor house has been regularly renovated and it is still very well preserved. Today, the three-sided courtyard with the tower resembles a ruin, as it has not been renovated for almost 200 years. Part of the roofs has collapsed and urgently needs to be renewed; otherwise, the building also makes a dilapidated impression.
The castle is privately owned; visitors are denied access.
Interior
The manor house consists of an entrance hall, a two-story knight's hall, and several rooms. In 1971, the entire interior was removed and restored. In the two-story knight's hall, there is a large fireplace, partly made of gold, as well as a mural on the ceiling and numerous patterns. On the north side, there is a 3x3 meter window, through which one can enjoy a magnificent view of the rear castle pond and the last remaining parts of the castle garden.
Legend of Irnharting+
Two noble maidens once rode out in 1329 and got lost in the forest west of Gunskirchen. They prayed to God for help and promised to build a small church. Soon, however, they were found and rescued. In gratitude, their father had a small church built and a magnificent castle next to it.
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Source: Wikipedia · Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 · Image: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Schloss_Inharting_Schlosskomplex1.jpg?uselang=de
This description draws on the facts documented in the linked Wikipedia article; Wikipedia content is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wording and editing: Mobile History.
Location: 48.1285, 13.9140