No. 17589
Burg Wagrain
Austria
CastleRuin14th century
No. 91207
No. 91207 · 47.367 N, 13.368 E
Quick summary
Schloss Höch is a palace in Austria, listed as reference No. 91207.
Schloss Höch is a palace in Austria with origins associated with the 12th century.
See all castles in AustriaSchloss Höch stands in the municipality of Flachau, Austria, and was originally established by local medieval settlers during the early 12th century. Its initial purpose was to serve as a modest fortress securing the important route between Altenmarkt and Wagrain, reflecting the strategic concerns of that era in northern Flachau.
The earliest record of the lords who owned the castle dates back to 1209. Over the centuries, the estate passed through various hands. In 1392, Hans Kölderer took ownership and later, in 1608, Karl Jocher—an affluent industrialist connected to the regional ironworks—acquired the property. Jocher was responsible for transforming the structure into the horseshoe shape still visible today. His son Adam continued renovations, introducing Renaissance-style elements completed by 1648.
By 1657, through marriage, the castle became part of the holdings of the von Plaz zum Thurn family. This family gained noble recognition in 1696 when Emperor Leopold I granted them the title of counts. The castle remained under their control for several centuries.
Significant social change arrived in 1869 when feudal obligations tied to the property were abolished, enabling the castle to become freehold. Between 1880 and 1893, Count Hieronymus von Plaz carried out modernization work to update the residence. By 1989 the building had fallen into disrepair when it was purchased by Alois Rohrmoser, a ski manufacturer. Rohrmoser’s bankruptcy led to the municipality of Flachau acquiring the site. From 2002 to 2007, extensive restoration was undertaken, adapting Schloss Höch primarily for cultural uses. It is now protected as an important architectural monument within Austria.
Condition
Schloss Höch occupies a gently inclined hill terrace roughly 975 meters above sea level, near the base of Blümeck peak. The complex is arranged around a central main building with two wings that form a horseshoe shape. Each wing ends with two small towers positioned at the southern corners, lending a distinctive silhouette to the castle’s profile.
The oldest surviving section, known as the Grafenstock, belongs to the early 15th century. This western part incorporates materials from even earlier construction phases. At the heart of this area lies the former entrance hall, covered by a rounded barrel vault—a type of ceiling shaped like a continuous arch. It connects through a Gothic-style portal to a corner room in the south that features a cross vault, where intersecting arches form the ceiling structure, typical of medieval architecture.
The first floor maintains original late Gothic wooden wall panels and includes an early 16th-century wooden separé, a type of room partition. Around 1600, an eastern wing was added, showcasing richly adorned Renaissance interiors. This wing houses a dining room, salon, bedroom, and a room known as the Grafenstube, each featuring elaborately carved wall paneling, coffered (sunken panel) ceilings, period doors, and early 17th-century majolica stoves—ceramic tile heaters glazed in vibrant colors.
A distinctive two-nave hall, running continuously along the first floor and roofed by a ridge vault supported by two central columns, links the two wings. Ornate doorways dated 1656 provide access from this hall to the adjacent wings. Additional late 19th-century alterations include a wooden bay window installed in 1893 on the west side and the construction of a new staircase.
Facing the eastern wing, a terrace with arcades—rows of arches supported by columns—offers an open veranda-like space. On the second floor of this wing is the private chapel. Rectangular in layout, it is covered by a cross vault ceiling and contains an altarpiece depicting Jesus seated in the lap of Mary. Emblazoned on this altarpiece are the combined coats of arms of the Jocher and Grimming families, reflecting the heritage of the castle’s former owners.
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