Schloss Starhemberg, Haag am Hausruck, Medieval castle and museum in Haag am Hausruck, Austria
Schloss Starhemberg is a castle with Renaissance features that spreads across a forested hill and includes three-story arcaded corridors along with a characteristic Nepomuk fountain in the front courtyard. Today it houses a museum that guides visitors through rooms furnished with objects and decor from different time periods.
The castle was first documented in 1246 and traces back to a fortress that Gundaker IV of Steyr built before 1236 as a ministerial of King Ottokar I Premysl. Over time the structure underwent several renovations and expansions, eventually acquiring the Renaissance form that remains visible today.
The name refers to the Starhemberg family, who shaped this place for centuries and left their mark on its character. Visitors can observe how rooms were once furnished through detailed miniature scenes that capture everyday life in earlier times.
The castle can be visited from May through October, with afternoon hours on Sundays and holidays. Visitors should know that the rooms are closely arranged, so the pace of a tour depends on how many people are present at the same time.
The French leader Napoleon Bonaparte spent one night at the castle in 1805 while traveling to the Battle of Austerlitz. This rare historical moment is still mentioned today as an important part of the castle's past.
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