Schloss Goldenstein, Heritage castle in Elsbethen, Austria
Schloss Goldenstein is a castle on a rocky ridge above the former Salzach meadows, featuring an eight-story main building with several wings positioned at 438 meters elevation. It contains a courtyard with a fountain bearing the Salzburg coat of arms, and today serves as a private middle school with dormitories and dining facilities in its side buildings.
The castle was first documented in 1417 when Hans von Haunsperg owned it. During the 18th century, it underwent major renovations that significantly modernized the structure.
The name comes from the golden-colored stone visible on the castle walls, especially at sunset. Inside, rooms from around 1600 display how the local nobility decorated their homes and entertained guests, with the Green Room and Knights' Hall still showing the elegance of that period.
Access to the castle is limited because it operates as a private school with residential facilities and is not open to the public for tours. The best way to view it is from below on the surrounding slopes, where you can see the building's structure and its position on the ridge.
A guest book started in 1790 documents visits by Salzburg nobles, professors, and monastery monks who stayed here. The composer Michael Haydn was a regular visitor and recorded his stays in this book, showing how the castle attracted distinguished cultural figures of the time.
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