Schloss Totzenbach

Schloss Totzenbach is a moated castle in Kirchstetten located on an island surrounded by a ditch fed by the nearby stream. Its most striking feature is a massive gate tower topped with a high hipped roof that commands the entrance.

The Knights of Totzenbach first appear in records from 1147 as the original owners of the land. In the 16th century, the fortress was transformed into a magnificent Renaissance palace under David von Trauttmansdorff.

The castle's name comes from the nearby Totzenbach stream, which once supplied water to the moated fortress. The Renaissance redesign shaped how the place looked and made it a sign of the wealth of those who lived there.

The castle remains privately owned, though specific rooms can be rented for private events such as weddings and cultural gatherings. Visitors should arrange access in advance to understand what viewing options are available.

During restoration work in the 1970s, workers uncovered the foundation walls of the medieval fortress in the courtyard buried beneath the present structure. These discoveries revealed how extensively the Renaissance redesign had altered the original building.