Schloss Ebenfurth, Water castle in Ebenfurth, Austria

Schloss Ebenfurth is a water castle in the Lower Austrian town of Ebenfurth, built around a central courtyard enclosed by four wings. A water-filled moat surrounds the structure on multiple sides, setting it apart from other historic buildings in the area.

The castle was built in the late Middle Ages and became a base for King Matthias Corvinus during his campaigns in the region. Over the following centuries it was rebuilt and extended several times, which is why different construction phases are still visible in the walls today.

The castle's cultural life is tied to the Suttner family, who owned it from 1747 until 1973. In 2020, during restoration work, 28 tombstones and fragments from the 17th century were found in the fortifications, evidence of the Jewish community that once lived in Ebenfurth. The building now serves as a private residence after a complete renovation in 2017 and 2018.

The castle is privately owned, so the interior is not open to visitors, but the outer walls and moat can be seen clearly from the paths that run around the building. A walk around the perimeter gives a good view of the different facades and the water surrounding them.

Excavations in the early 2020s uncovered more than two dozen tombstones and stone fragments on the site, pointing to an earlier religious use of the location. This suggests the ground beneath the castle had already held social and spiritual importance for the community long before the current building took shape.