The Senftenberg Castle Ruins are the ruins of a hilltop castle on a hill in the market town of Senftenberg in northern Lower Austria, in the Krems-Land district. The Senftenberg Castle Ruins Association, which has leased the ruins for 100 years, has set itself the goal of renovating the castle ruins in recent years. A continuous road and a parking lot from the village to the ruins, which are open to visitors year-round, have made the climb easier.
History
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The castle and the family were first mentioned in a document dated April 26, 1197, in which a Rudegerus de Senftenberc was named as one of the witnesses. The builders of the initially planned hilltop castle were the High Freemen of Lengenbach, who had also built and occupied several castles in Rehberg. However, they passed these on to their relatives, who then took their names after Senftenberg and Minnenbach. The castle was owned by the Zebring family in the 13th century, and by the Wallsee family in the 14th and 15th centuries. Between 1407 and 1409, the castle was partially destroyed during the guardianship feuds, but was subsequently rebuilt. During the first Turkish siege of Vienna, the castle served as a refuge for the local population. It is also documented that highwaymen regularly stayed in the castle around 1520. During the Peasants' War, towards the end of the 16th century, there were frequent attempts to storm the castle. However, it was not until 1645, during the Thirty Years' War, that it was captured and destroyed by Swedish troops under the leadership of General Torstenson, and subsequently fell into disrepair. Three gates, the square keep, a defensive wall, and a tower still remain. Striking features include the shield wall, which is rather unusual for Austrian castles, and the tower, which has a rectangular base, an oval center, and a hexagonal shape in the last quarter.
From Wikipedia