The Former Princely Castle Near the Austrian Border Is Being Reborn

In the 13th century, an abbey stood on the main street of one of the border settlements; however, it was completely destroyed during the Ottoman occupation. It is likely that a princely estate – including a farm complex and a castle – was built on or near its former location at the beginning of the 19th century. It is also possible that the monastery stood a few hundred metres closer to the border, and the new complex was not constructed directly on its ruins. The buildings of the estate were built in the late Baroque and Neoclassical styles and served as an economic centre. The area included, among others, a school, a granary, and an estate manager’s residence, but the most significant building was the princely castle. Over the centuries, the property changed hands several times and was owned by families such as the Esterházy, Liechtenstein, Habsburg, and Wittelsbach families. In 1945, the wave of nationalisations also reached this castle. A cooperative farming organisation moved into the buildings, and later ownership passed to the local municipality. Over the years, the condition of the castle deteriorated significantly; however, today there is renewed hope for its rescue and restoration.