Niederfalkenstein Castle

Niederfalkenstein Castle is located near Obervellach in Carinthia, Austria, positioned on a rocky ridge above the Möll Valley. The site was first recorded in 1164 under the name Valchensteyn, suggesting an earlier settlement possibly connected to the nearby Roman town of Teurnia. It is believed that inhabitants from Teurnia retreated to this valley before 600 AD, laying the groundwork for the castle’s origins.

In the medieval period, Niederfalkenstein served as a ministerial seat under the Counts of Gorizia and Gradisca. Early records mention Gumpoldus de Valchenstein, a ministerialis serving Count Engelbert I. Around 1200, the ruling counts began styling themselves as von Görz. The Falkenstein family, who once held the castle, became extinct around 1300. Subsequently, the Counts of Görz appointed different ministeriales to oversee Oberfalkenstein and Niederfalkenstein separately.

By 1394, the upper castle was pledged to Duke Albrecht III of Austria and later confirmed as Habsburg property through the Peace of Pusarnitz. During the 15th and 16th centuries, the castle changed ownership several times. In 1462, Andreas von Graben zu Sommeregg held the castle. Later, in 1504, Julian, Count of Lodron, purchased it from Emperor Maximilian I for 7,500 gulden.

Apollonia Lang von Wellenburg, widow of Count Lodron and sister to Archbishop Cardinal Matthäus Lang of Salzburg, married Croatian Count Kristof Frankopan, who became the castle’s owner. Frankopan died in conflict with the Habsburgs. Around 1510, Apollonia funded restorations of the castle and donated a notable altar painting by Jan van Scorel to the local church.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the castle fell into neglect under the barons von Sternbach, who preferred their residence at Groppenstein Castle. Niederfalkenstein deteriorated as a result. In 1905, Ferdinand Kaltenegger von Riedhorst acquired the castle and restored it, shaping its current appearance. After his death in 1912, ownership changed hands multiple times, including Georg Friedrich Scheier (1939–1947) and Anni Helene Johanna Oehmichen from 1959, who invested heavily in restoration efforts.

A burglary in 1969 caused a fire that destroyed the main building and valuable interiors. The culprit was soon apprehended. Oehmichen restored the castle once more and was honored with a plaque by the Obervellach community. She lived there until her death in 1987. Ownership then passed to her nephews, Rolf-Peter Oehmichen and Erhard Christian Mahnke. Rolf-Peter continued restoration work, repairing roofs and battlements. In 1989, the castle was sold to entrepreneur Weissmann, and in 1998 it was acquired by the Fersterer family, hotel owners from Saalbach.

Since 2016, Niederfalkenstein Castle has been accessible to the public during summer months. It was also featured on an Austrian postage stamp in 1973 and has a detailed 1:87 scale model produced by the company Kibri.