Stauff Castle

Stauff Castle is located in the municipality of Frankenmarkt in the Vöcklabruck district of Upper Austria (Stauf 1).

Around 1450, the building was referred to as "Huntsreinermühle". The owners were the brothers Siegmund and Wolfgang Forster zu Forstenrreith and Hehenberg. In 1559, Hans Heinrich Geumann is mentioned as the owner of Stauf. In 1578, Stauf was elevated to a noble seat by Emperor Rudolf II. In 1581, the owner was Elias Underholzer, the last imperial caretaker. Further owners were: Michael Staufer (1580), Wolfgang Wagner (1587), his son Hans Wagner, who was married to Leonore Rosenberger von Rosenegg, and then the Lords of Thenn (1614), Salzburg mint masters, Christoph Khevenhüller and his widow (1630). In 1778, the castle was acquired by Florian Max C(K)lodi and in 1790 passed on to Karolina Countess von Klam. From 1803, the Counts Clam-Martinic were in possession of Stauf. In 1810, the property passed to the Preuner, in 1817 Stauff was the landgravial noble seat of Prince Wrede, and in 1833 it came to Anton Payr. In 1865, it passed to the glass manufacturer Baron Stimpfl von Freudenthal, who set up a glass grinding shop here. In 1876, the eldest son Theodor Stimpfl bought the property, with Stauf remaining uninhabited. This was followed in 1911 by Theodor Stimpfl jun.

During the Second World War, the castle served as a camp for the female Reich Labour Service (RAD). It remained in the possession of the Stimpfl family until 1971. In 1971, Adolf Zelba acquired Stauff Castle, with further owners following in quick succession: Fellnsteiner (1977), Herbert Ernst Pils (1983) and in 1991 the beverage manufacturer Kommerzialrat August Starzinger. Between 2001 and 2007, the castle was extensively renovated by him and his family. Today, the castle houses the registry office of Frankenmarkt and a museum. In the inner courtyard there is a small stage, which can be used for music events, among other things. With a variety of events (birthday, anniversary, company and Christmas parties) and cultural events, the castle is now revitalized.