Castle Alt-Wildon, Medieval castle ruins in Wildon, Austria
Castle Alt-Wildon is the remains of a medieval fortress overlooking the village of Wildon. The site features a Roman tower base with three surviving stories and sections of the original four-sided castle layout that dates to the 15th century.
The fortress was founded in the late 12th century by Hartnid von Riegersburg as a key stronghold in the region. It gradually lost importance after a new castle was built at Neu-Wildon around the mid-13th century, eventually being abandoned.
The site was long home to the Wildon family, one of the oldest noble families in the region with ties to Salzburg's archbishops. Today the ruins reflect the medieval power structures that shaped local governance.
The ruins can be reached on foot via a forest trail that takes about 15 minutes from the parking area near Am Schlossberg Nr. 11. The path is unpaved and can be slippery when wet, so sturdy footwear is advisable for the walk.
Archaeological digs conducted between 1985 and 1994 uncovered evidence of 9th-century fortifications that predate the medieval castle structure. These findings reveal that the hilltop was already valued as a strategic location centuries before the current ruins were built.
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