Schloss Thannhausen, Renaissance château in Thannhausen, Austria
Schloss Thannhausen is a four-winged Renaissance building with diamond-shaped corner towers arranged around a large interior courtyard spanning three stories. The arcaded galleries on each level of the courtyard connect the four wings and create shaded walkways.
The château was completed in 1585 by Johann von Teuffenbach and Conrad von Thannhausen, replacing a Roman villa rustica on this site. Extensive renovations around 1720 gave the building much of its current appearance.
The castle shows in its arcaded courtyards the blend between defensive needs and the desire for comfortable living that was typical of this era. This mixing is visible especially in the columned galleries, which served both practical and aesthetic purposes.
The castle sits in the Styrian countryside near Weiz and remains a private residence of the Reichsfreiherren von Gudenus family. As a private property, interior access is limited, but the exterior facades and towers can be viewed from the surrounding grounds.
The northern wall retains defensive elements from the original fortress, integrated with Renaissance-style columned arcades spanning three levels. This coexistence of old fortifications and elegant new forms shows how castle building transformed during this period.
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