Schloss Ehrenfels, Medieval castle in Bad St. Leonhard im Lavanttal, Austria

Schloss Ehrenfels is a castle in Bad St. Leonhard im Lavanttal built on elevated ground with heavy stone walls and defensive structures. The complex shows medieval fortification design with thick masonry characteristic of medieval construction methods.

The castle was built in medieval times as a defensive stronghold to protect and control the region. Over centuries it underwent modifications and repairs that reflected changing needs and architectural styles of different periods.

The name comes from the Ehrenfels family, who moved to Carinthia from Switzerland; a 14th-century roll of arms shows three fish in their coat of arms. Two of the four brothers who fortified the house here in the 14th century were robber barons. Count Georg Nogarol, who bought the castle in 1591, had a massive bastion built in 1593, and his coat of arms can still be seen in the stone bulge of the high wall.

The castle is located in Bad St. Leonhard im Lavanttal and accessible from outside with walking paths around it. Wear comfortable shoes as the terrain is hilly and some areas may require more effort to reach.

In the stone bulge of the high wall, the coat of arms of Count Georg Nogarol is still visible in several places; he had a powerful bastion built here in 1593 with the bishopric's permission. The castle's name comes from the Ehrenfels family, who immigrated from Switzerland; their ancestral seat was Ehrenfels Castle near Sils in Graubünden.