Puchenau Castle

Puchenau Castle is located in the municipality of Puchenau in the district of Urfahr-Umgebung in Upper Austria (Karl-Leitl-Straße 1).

The Beginnings

The castle was built by Count Ernst Christoph Schallenberg as an administrative seat for his Upper Austrian estates. As such, Puchenau never served a defensive function. The builder was financially ruined by the construction of the castle, and so he had to sell the castle and the associated farmstead in 1693 to Baron Augustin von Ehrhard (Erhart). In 1695, the latter succeeded in having Puchenau elevated to a noble country seat. Through his daughter Maria Theresia († 1697 without children), Puchenau, together with the lordship of Gallspach, came to Count Ehrgott von Khueffstein in 1704. Since his marriage was childless, Puchenau passed to the siblings Lobgott and Maria Franziska von Khueffstein, née Thürheim. The noble lords operated a Danube ferry and a ferry service (Fergenfahrt) to Linz in 1713. Christoph Ernst von Schallenberg already had a ferryman in his service. From Maria Franziska, the property passed to the Thürheim family.

Loss of Significance

Joseph Gundaker von Thürheim united the two lordships of Puchenau and Hartheim and moved the administration and court to Hartheim, which meant a devaluation of Puchenau. In 1752, he sold the castle and the farmstead to the court innkeeper and brewmaster Reichart Arminger. As a result, Puchenau became a farm and lost its former manorial rights. The castle had since been a relatively unloved appendage of the farmstead. During the War of the Austrian Succession and the Napoleonic Wars, the castle was occupied by Bavarians and French and served as a hospital.

Subsequently, frequent changes of ownership occurred. Other owners include: Count Josef Wenzel von Thürheim (1793), Prince Georg Adam von Starhemberg (1803), Pastor Johann Georg Pühringer, also administrator of Helfenberg, and Gustav Hartmut (1877-1901). His daughter Eleonore, married Krüzner, sold the castle to Johann Bill from Moravia. He was succeeded by Oskar Streit. After 1920, Erwin Doubler from Aargau was the owner. His son sold Puchenau in 1961 to the brickyard owner Leitl from Eferding, who established the administrative center of the Bauhütte Leitl-Werke here in 1973. From him, Puchenau came into the ownership of the real estate company Amisola, founded by Billa founder Karl Wlaschek. He sold Puchenau to the companies Sare GmbH and Businesspark Schloss Puchenau GmbH. The owners of both companies are Ernst Seyr and Rainer Lehner, as well as the Swiss pension fund.

Current Use

The castle was fundamentally renovated and redesigned after 2009. Apartments and commercial spaces were created in the building. In addition, the castle houses the wedding hall of the municipality of Puchenau, which can also be used for other cultural purposes.