Lackenbach Castle, Water castle in Lackenbach, Austria
Lackenbach Castle is a moated castle southeast of Lackenbach in Burgenland, Austria. It consists of a two-storey main building, a long single-storey economic building and a steward's house. The round-arched main portal still bears the rollers of the former drawbridge, and above it are a statue of Mary and a double coat of arms of Esterházy-Dersffy. The moat is partly preserved.
Erasmus von Teufel built the moated castle between 1548 and 1552; it was later enlarged under Archbishop Nicolaus Oláh with architect Geronimo Mariano. In 1618 it passed to Count Nikolaus Esterházy. A fire in 1787 partly destroyed it, after which the northwest wing was demolished during rebuilding work.
Since 1997 the castle has housed a natural history museum, and it also hosts exhibitions on the castle's own history and on courtly hunting. The double coat of arms of Esterházy-Dersffy above the main portal recalls the families linked to the building.
The castle stands southeast of Lackenbach and is managed by Esterhazy Betriebe AG. The moat survives in part, and the round-arched main portal still carries the rollers of the former drawbridge, with a Marian statue and the Esterházy-Dersffy double coat of arms above it. Since 1997 the building has housed a natural history museum and hosts exhibitions on the castle's history and courtly hunting.
The grounds hold a natural history museum focused on animals and plants from the surrounding region, which is an unusual feature for a noble estate. This means visitors can move between the castle's history and local nature without leaving the property.
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