Burgruine Starhemberg, Medieval castle ruin in Markt Piesting, Austria
Burgruine Starhemberg is a fortified castle from the 12th century located on a hillside near Markt Piesting in Lower Austria. The structure spreads across an extensive area with multiple towers that dominate the landscape.
The castle was founded in the 1140s by Duke Ottokar III and served the Babenberg dynasty as an important stronghold. Its rule ended in 1278, after which the site gradually lost significance.
The chapel within the ruins held spiritual importance for medieval believers in the region. It sheltered one of the most precious religious relics of the Middle Ages.
The ruins have been closed to visitors since 2007 due to safety concerns. The best view of the structure, however, can be had from the nearby sports field.
The ruins appear on the famous Ebstorf World Map from 1239 under the name Starkenberch urbs. This made it one of only a few castles in Austria to be recorded on medieval world maps.
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