Burg Burgschleinitz

It is probably one of the most romantic places in the area and is one of the last moated castles in the Waldviertel - Burgschleinitz Castle. On the edge of an idyllic pond, surrounded by a deep moat, the massive castle wall rises up into the air.

The castle was first mentioned in the 11th century as the ancestral seat of the Schleunz family, from whose name the name "Burgschleinitz" developed over time. From then on, the estate constantly changed hands. The Habsburgs were also able to call themselves owners of the impressive fortress in the middle of the 14th century, but soon passed it on as a fiefdom.

In 1480, the fortress was attacked by Hussite troops and completely destroyed in the ensuing battle. 100 years later, Georg Bayer von Niederdürnbach appeared on the scene and began to rebuild it - an inscription on the barrel vault on the second floor still bears witness to his work today. However, he commits suicide soon afterwards, as a result of which the fief falls to Rudolph von Innspruckh for a short time.
At the beginning of the Thirty Years' War, Burgschleinitz, like Gars, was also burned by the Bohemian troops. A short time later, the Counts of Kuefstein finally move into the castle. Only after more than 300 years were they replaced as lords of the castle by the barons of Sazenhofen.

Artists, especially writers, have always found their muse at Burgschleinitz. In addition to popular authors of the time such as Alexandra Sazenhofen and her mother and sister, Franz Grillparzer also once sought inspiration at the moated castle. The work "Die Ahnfrau" (The Ancestress) is owed to this time of muse - understandable, as the drama is also set in a castle. However, it is not possible to say for certain how long Grillparzer stayed at Burgschleinitz.

In 1974, the moat running beneath the walls was refilled so that the moated castle could once again live up to its name.

Today, the fortress is privately owned and is maintained by the Eckert family together with their daughter, the actress Andrea Eckert.