Schloss Gusterheim, Medieval château in Pöls-Oberkurzheim, Austria
Schloss Gusterheim is an elongated two-story building in Poles-Oberkurzheim featuring two small inner courtyards and an eastern tower crowned by a baroque dome. The entire complex shows features of noble architecture and functionality that developed through multiple phases of renovation across centuries.
The building originated as a farm belonging to Offenburg Castle but was transformed into a noble residence after 1629 when Christof Viehhauser purchased it. Later renovations in 1835 incorporated prison cells from the decaying Reifenstein castle ruins when the property briefly served as a district court building.
The castle received imperial recognition from Emperor Leopold I in 1658, allowing its owner Christian Johann Payrlechner to adopt the noble title 'von Lerchtenthal und Gusterheim'. This elevation to the nobility is visible in the building's architectural details and continues to shape its appearance today.
The castle functions as a residence and administrative building for a large forestry operation but remains viewable from the outside for visitors. It is best reached on foot and exterior viewing is possible, though visitors should maintain respectful distance from the working property.
The building contains an unusual collection of architectural elements: parts of its structure originate from the former Offenburg Castle, while prison cells from the decaying Reifenstein Castle were integrated into its walls. This reuse of material from neighboring castles is a rare example of how older structures were dissolved into a new property.
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