Altschielleiten, Castle ruin in Stubenberg, Austria

Altschielleiten is a castle ruin in Stubenberg where weathered stone walls and foundations reveal the layout of medieval rooms and defensive structures. The site shows how fortifications were built and arranged during the Middle Ages, with remains of walls standing at different heights across the terrain.

The castle was built during the Middle Ages as a strategic outpost to control access and trade routes across the Stubenberg region. It served as an important defensive position until it was gradually abandoned and fell into ruin over the centuries.

The ruin long hosted the Burgfest, a popular summer-night festival with drink stalls and folk music. Schielleiten was also a centre of Protestantism in Styria until 1629, when the Protestant female heirs of the Rindschaid had to leave the region. A small, converted part of the ruin has been inhabited for a long time.

Visits to the ruin are not possible: a small, converted part of it has long been inhabited, and the rest is private property. The owners are Josef Stelzer, former mayor of Stubenberg, and his sister Hermine Schreiner. The site can therefore only be viewed from outside.

A small, converted part of the ruin has long been inhabited, so the site is not open to visitors. The owners are Josef Stelzer, a former ÖVP mayor of Stubenberg, and his sister Hermine Schreiner. The ruin itself was long the venue of the Burgfest, a popular summer-night festival with drink service and folk music.