Ruine Puxer-Loch, Cave castle in Teufenbach-Katsch, Austria.
Ruine Puxer-Loch is a cave castle ruin on the southern slope of Pleschaitz mountain in Teufenbach-Katsch, Austria, made up of two structures cut into the limestone cliff. The walls and rooms are built directly into the rock face, combining natural cave openings with constructed elements.
The site appears in written records as early as 1181, when one of the two castles was already in use. Over the following centuries, different noble families took ownership until the place was abandoned in the 1500s.
The name Puxer-Loch comes from a Middle High German word meaning hole or hollow, which points directly to what makes this place unusual. Visitors can still see how natural recesses in the rock were shaped into rooms and passageways.
A hiking trail starting near a parking area by the Mur River leads to the ruin in about half an hour. The last section is steep and rocky, so sturdy footwear is strongly recommended.
Beneath the two castle structures, underground passages connect natural cave formations to the built defense system, turning the whole cliff into one continuous fortification. This means the rock itself served as both building material and wall.
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