Stiebar Castle

The town of Gresten is first mentioned in a document in 1230. At that time, however, Hausegg Castle already existed to its west. Only individual ruins of its walls remain. A Berengar von Hawsec is mentioned as early as 1142. He was a ministerialis of the Babenbergs. The castle itself is first reported in 1181.

When Friedrich III, the last Hausegger, died in 1305, Otto I von Zinzendorf, who was married to Gertraud, a daughter of Friedrich, built a new fortress north of the old castle as part of the inheritance division. It was called Niederhausegg, while the old complex was now referred to as Oberhausegg. Since the land belonged to the Diocese of Regensburg, Niederhausegg was a fief of the Regensburg bishops.

Under Stefan von Zinzendorf, the lordships of Ober- and Niederhausegg were united in 1546. Oberhausegg was subsequently left to decay. Around 1612, Niederhausegg was expanded, primarily to improve its defensive capabilities. The Zinzendorfers retained Hausegg until the extinction of the local branch of the family around 1738. After a brief interlude by the married-in Counts of Preysing, Christoph and Josepha von Stiebar acquired the lordship in 1765. From 1790, Niederhausegg was predominantly referred to as Stiebar Castle. Johann Joseph Freiherr von Stiebar had a comprehensive renovation carried out in 1794, which finally transformed the castle into a habitable palace. All defensive structures were removed and the former moat was filled in.

In 1820, Christof Graf Stiebar sold the already heavily indebted lordship to his stepson Josef von Knorr. When Josef Knorr died in 1839, his three daughters inherited the property. In 1908, Otto Graf Seefried inherited the castle. It is still inhabited by his family today, but is occasionally made available to the public for concerts and other events.