Schloss Ruegers, Baroque castle in Riegersburg, Hardegg, Austria

Schloss Ruegers is a Baroque castle in Riegersburg near Hardegg, close to the Czech border. Its cream-coloured facade has a central block rising to a rounded gable and a triangular pediment topped with statues, flanked by two end wings with dark domed roofs. Pilasters divide the facade, which has arched and oval windows, and the entrance is reached by steps behind open black iron gates. It was built between 1730 and 1780 to plans by Franz Anton Pilgram.

The castle was first documented in 1212 as a medieval fortress belonging to the Count of Hardegg. Between 1730 and 1780, it was redesigned with Baroque features that define its appearance today.

The castle's name changed in 2017, when owner Octavian Pilati renamed Riegersburg to Ruegers; the name Riegersburg probably derives from a person called Rueger. The north wing holds a chapel consecrated in 1755. From 2003 to 2016 the halls hosted annual art exhibitions, with artists such as Ernst Fuchs, Arik Brauer and Lubo Kristek taking part.

Visitors should take time to explore the accessible rooms at their own pace, as not all areas of the castle are open. It is advisable to wear sturdy footwear, as the location sits on uneven terrain with stairs throughout.

The castle's name changed in 2017, when owner Octavian Pilati renamed Riegersburg to Ruegers. The name Riegersburg probably derives from a person called Rueger; a similar name appears in connection with the Neudegg ruin near Pulkau, though any link is unknown. The chapel in the north wing was consecrated in 1755.