Mayerhofen Castle

Mayerhofen Castle is located at the exit of the Metznitz Valley in the municipality of Friesach.

In 1303, Archbishop Friedrich donated the Salzburg Meierhof to the long-dissolved Maria-Magdalena Monastery. In the 18th century, the estate came into the possession of the Counts of Gaisruck, later into that of Count Aichelburg. Afterwards, Bishop Salm-Reiferscheid acquired it, and then Peter von Mayerhofen. In 1812, Karl Anton von Dresdner bought it. Since 1837, the castle has belonged to the Knappitsch family.

The castle is a three-story cubic building from the late 17th century with Josephinian facades designed around 1790. The main facade to the east is crowned by a high triangular gable. The coats of arms of the Archdiocese of Salzburg and the Knapitsch family are affixed in the gable. In three rooms on the upper floor, stucco decorations from the first half and the end of the 18th century have been preserved. The Biedermeier garden was laid out at the beginning of the 19th century and equipped with a garden pavilion with an onion dome. The oval swimming pool with gargoyles was built around 1900. In the 20th century, a runway for small aircraft was built north of the castle.