Heinfels Castle, Medieval fortress in Heinfels, Austria.

This medieval fortress stands majestically at 1,130 meters above sea level on a hilltop overlooking the Upper Val Pusteria valley, commanding sweeping views across the Gailtal valley and surrounding Alpine peaks.

The keep dates to 1210, as building research proved during restoration work between 2016 and 2020; the castle itself was first mentioned in documents in 1243. From 1275 the Counts of Gorizia developed it into an administrative and court seat. In 1460 Count John II of Gorizia moved in and rebuilt it as a residence. A major fire on 15 January 1613 destroyed large parts, and the court chamber rebuilt it soon afterwards.

The castle's name comes from the legendary Huns: until the 16th century it was called Huonenfels, Huonifels, Huenfels or Heunfels. The Counts of Gorizia made it the seat of a court from 1275, and in 1460 Count John II of Gorizia chose it as his residence.

The castle stands on a rocky hilltop at 1,130 m above Heinfels, reached on foot from the village; the terrain is steep and the southern chapel wing is now very dilapidated. The complex has three building groups around a courtyard whose cistern was already recorded as dilapidated in 1535. The keep is 20 m high.

The keep, the oldest part of the castle, was dated to 1210 during restoration work carried out between 2016 and 2020, disproving earlier theories that the Avars or Huns had founded the site. Until the 16th century the castle was called Huonenfels or Heunfels, after the legendary Hunnic origin.