Clan Rising
Burg Finstergrün today

Austria · Restored

Burg Finstergrün

Finstergrün Castle is a medieval fortification in the Austrian state of Salzburg, built around 1296–97 and serving as a border fortress and later an administrative seat for nearby mines. It stands on a wooded mountain slope above the valley and has a tall square keep, a multi-storey main tower with a steep wooden roof, and adjoining domestic ranges.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1450

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1450

What Burg Finstergrün looked like in its prime.

A compact stone castle group perched on a rocky, tree-scattered slope with conifer forest and mountains behind; a tall, rectangular stone keep with a plain parapet stands separate to the left, while a larger multi-storey tower with a steep, wooden-clad hip roof and a stone lower body rises nearer the centre. Low stone domestic ranges with steep slate roofs connect walls and form an inner courtyard that opens onto a grassy forecourt with rocky outcrops.

Its story

The story of Burg Finstergrün.

Finstergrün Castle, 1,087 metres up in the state of Salzburg, is believed to have been built in 1296/97 by Rudolf von Fohnsdorf, and by 1300 was described as a border fortress between the Archbishopric of Salzburg and the Duchy of Styria. During the 14th and 15th centuries it became the seat of the administrator in charge of the silver mines at Ramingstein. The name Burg Finstergruen, "dark ditch", is first documented in 1629.

In 1841 the castle complex was destroyed by a forest fire. In 1899 a new owner, Count Sándor Szapary, bought the ruin and rebuilt a comfortable house from it, later inherited by his son; through the 1930s and 1940s it belonged to his widow, Countess Margit Szapáry, who took in selected paying guests.

After the Second World War, Burg Finstergrün became a centre of the activities of the Evangelical Youth movement, its tall square keep and steep-roofed main tower still standing on the wooded mountainside above the valley.

Step inside

7 places to explore in 1450.

The record describes 7 distinct spots at Burg Finstergrün, including the full exterior approach. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach from grassy forecourtBase of the rectangular keepMain tower exterior and roofInner bailey and domestic rangesCurtain wall walk and battlementsSouth residential range, courtyard sideGatehouse / entrance approach

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Whose castle

Clans who held Burg Finstergrün.

The families that held Burg Finstergrün for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Szapáry

    Bought and rebuilt from ruin by Count Sándor Szapary in 1899; held by the family into the 1940s.

Questions about Burg Finstergrün

What is the history of Burg Finstergrün?

Burg Finstergrün has a history as a border fortress, mining administration centre and rebuilt castle residence. It was built around 1296–97 and in 1300 was described as a frontier fortress between the Archbishopric of Salzburg and the Duchy of Styria. A forest fire destroyed the complex in 1841; Count Sándor Szapary bought the ruin in 1899 and rebuilt a comfortable house, completed in its present form around 1908.

What is inside Burg Finstergrün?

Inside Burg Finstergrün are the Rittersaal, chapel, Jolanthazimmer, a crypt, courtyards and an exhibition room. The interior contains historical furnishings, including a fifteenth-century-style plate armour made in a Milanese workshop. The castle also has rooms used for children’s and youth activities, seminars and other events.

Why was Burg Finstergrün built, and what was it used for?

Burg Finstergrün was built as a high-altitude border fortress at a strategically important point. Its later purposes included monitoring an important transport route and toll station, and serving as the seat of the administrator responsible for the silver mines at Ramingstein. After its rebuilding, it became a residence and later a centre for youth activities.

Who owns Burg Finstergrün now?

Burg Finstergrün is owned by the Evangelical Youth of Austria. It acquired the castle in 1972, after parts of the complex had been leased to the Austrian Evangelical Youth organisation from 1949. The castle serves as a children’s and youth leisure centre and as a youth hostel.

Where is Burg Finstergrün?

Burg Finstergrün stands above Ramingstein in Salzburg’s Lungau region. The castle is on a steep rocky spur south of Ramingstein, at about 1,085–1,087 metres above sea level. Its elevated position provided wide views and helped control routes and a toll station.

Is Burg Finstergrün still standing or is it a ruin?

Burg Finstergrün is still standing and has been restored, but it incorporates both an older ruin and a later rebuilt section. The older castle survives only as a ruin, while a new castle was built beside it from 1901 and had gained its present appearance around 1908. A 1986 fire damaged the tower roof, which was later renewed.

Which family or clan held Burg Finstergrün?

The Szapáry family held Burg Finstergrün from 1899 into the 1940s. Count Sándor Szapary bought the ruined castle in 1899 and rebuilt it, and after his death his widow, Countess Margit Szapáry, continued the work and held the castle through the 1930s and 1940s.

What did Burg Finstergrün look like in its prime?

In its prime, Burg Finstergrün was a compact stone castle group on a rocky, tree-scattered mountainside. A tall rectangular keep with a plain parapet stood apart from a larger multi-storey tower with a steep wooden-clad roof. Domestic ranges with steep slate roofs formed an inner courtyard, with walls, battlements and a grassy forecourt around the complex.

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