Schloss Ebergassing

Schloss Ebergassing is situated in the municipality of Ebergassing in modern-day Austria. The castle’s origins date back to the early 12th century, with records confirming its existence as a fortress or castle by the year 1120. It was initially established as a defensive structure within the medieval landscape of Lower Austria.

During the mid-15th century, the castle was under the control of the lords of Wald, a noble family who undertook the reconstruction of its internal chapel. A significant event occurred in 1486 when Hungarian troops, supported by mercenaries from Vienna, captured Schloss Ebergassing following an extended siege, marking a moment of military conflict that affected its ownership and use.

From roughly 1540 until 1620, the castle was owned by the Thanrädl family, originally from Salzburg. They transformed the medieval fortress into a Renaissance-style residence, adding features such as a moat that surrounded the property. The Thanrädl family’s possession ended when they were dispossessed due to their Protestant faith, a reflection of the religious tensions of the period. Following this, the castle passed to the Princes of Liechtenstein, who undertook two major expansions in the Baroque style, once around 1720 and again circa 1760, further altering the building’s appearance and scale.

Between 1788 and 1811, ownership shifted to the von Trattner family. Notably, Therese von Trattner, the second wife of Johann Thomas Edler von Trattner, was a student of the famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Mozart dedicated two musical works to her: the Sonata No. 14 in C minor, K. 457, and the Fantasia in C minor, K. 475, indicating the castle’s connection to significant cultural figures of the time.

The 20th century brought hardship when the castle suffered heavy damage and looting during World War II, which left it uninhabitable and abandoned for a prolonged period. Restoration efforts took place from 1998 to 2001, after which the property came into the hands of the Sandhofer and Aichelburg-Rumerskirch families. Today, Schloss Ebergassing is recognized and protected as a cultural heritage monument by Austrian authorities, preserving its long and varied history.