From the year 1002, a castle in Mödling is mentioned, [1] whereby this could mean a castle around today's St. Othmarkirche. From 1177 at the latest, Mödling Castle was the seat of a branch line of the Babenbergs, who are considered to be builders, and was initially constructed from 1148 as a widow's seat for Theodora, a niece of the Byzantine emperor Manuel I. [2] Heinrich de Medlich, son of Heinrich Jasomirgott and Theodoras and brother of Leopold V from the second half of the 12th century, is named as the builder. Heinrich de Medlich (Heinrich the Elder of Mödling) also called himself a duke, although Mödling was not a duchy. According to records and reconstructions, it is said to have been one of the largest castles in Austria in the 12th century.
According to local tradition, the most prominent guest was the minstrel Walther von der Vogelweide in 1219. However, this stay is not documented. The assumption goes back to the mentioning of Heinrich the Elder in Walther's "Three Prince Prize", in which the minstrel thanks him for being welcomed to court. However, this applies to the Leopold VI court. in Vienna. In contrast, another minstrel, namely Neidhardt von Reuental, mentions his actual stay in Mödling in his winter song “Sumer, dîner süezen weter”, where he had received accommodation after losing his Bavarian fief (around 1230) and moving to Austria. The lords of the castle were not so involved in wars, but more dedicated to art, as the minstrel also mentioned the generosity at the court of the Muses. The chapel in the castle was dedicated to St. Pancras.