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Burgruine Griffen today

Austria · Ruin

Burgruine Griffen

Burg Griffen is a medieval castle ruin sitting atop a 130 m limestone crag above the town of Griffen in Carinthia, Austria. Built in the early 12th century and substantially rebuilt around 1520, it now survives as stone curtain walls and tower remnants; the mountain also contains the Griffener dripstone cave.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1124

Its prime

1520

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1520

What Burgruine Griffen looked like in its prime.

The castle crowns a steep 130 m limestone crag, its footprint running along the ridge with successive pale-grey stone curtain walls and stepped terraces. At the summit are low rubble-built walls and the remains of several rectangular tower blocks with crenellated parapets; masonry is local limestone. The complex has an irregular silhouette of staggered walls and ruinous buildings with grassy terraces and scattered trees on the slope. At its prime the structures formed a continuous defensive line along the ridge.

Its story

The story of Burgruine Griffen.

Burg Griffen crowns a 130-metre limestone crag above the town of Griffen in Carinthia. Built in the early 12th century and substantially rebuilt around 1520, it survives today as a ruin of stone curtain walls and tower remnants; the mountain beneath it also holds the Griffener dripstone cave.

In 1292 the Carinthian nobleman Count Ulrich von Heunburg, supported by Archbishop Konrad IV of Salzburg, occupied the fort in an uprising against Albert of Habsburg, son of King Rudolph I of Germany. In 1759 Bishop Adam Friedrich sold Bamberg's Carinthian estates to Maria Theresa of Austria, and the castle was incorporated into the Carinthian duchy.

Step inside

8 places to explore in 1520.

The record describes 8 distinct spots at Burgruine Griffen, including 1 interior: griffener tropfsteinhöhle entrance. 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 town (southern view)Base of the cliffWestern terrace with flagsSummit towers and curtain wallsInner bailey (summit enclosure)Northern curtain walk and battlementsSlope access path beneath the treesGriffener Tropfsteinhöhle entrance

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Questions about Burgruine Griffen

What is the history of Burgruine Griffen?

Burgruine Griffen was built in the early 12th century and substantially rebuilt around 1520. In 1292, Count Ulrich von Heunburg and Archbishop Konrad IV of Salzburg occupied the fort during an uprising against Albert of Habsburg. In 1759, it became part of the Carinthian duchy after Bamberg’s Carinthian estates were sold to Maria Theresa.

What is inside Burgruine Griffen?

Inside Burgruine Griffen’s mountain is the entrance to the Griffener dripstone cave. The cave is 485 metres long and was not discovered until the late days of the Second World War. It has been a natural landmark since 1957 and is open to the public.

Where is Burgruine Griffen?

Burgruine Griffen is above the town of Griffen in Carinthia. It crowns a 130-metre limestone crag above the town, with the mountain also containing the Griffener dripstone cave. Griffen is the settlement in which the castle is located.

When was Burgruine Griffen built?

Burgruine Griffen was first raised in 1124, in the early 12th century. The castle was built between 1124 and 1146, and a large reconstruction took place around 1520. These phases produced the medieval castle and its later defensive rebuilding.

Was Burgruine Griffen ever attacked or besieged?

Burgruine Griffen was never besieged by the Ottoman forces, although it was occupied in 1292 during an uprising. Count Ulrich von Heunburg, supported by Archbishop Konrad IV of Salzburg, took the fort from the side of Albert of Habsburg. Ulrich had to leave the castle one year later after his allies abandoned him.

What did Burgruine Griffen look like in its prime?

At its prime, Burgruine Griffen formed a continuous defensive line along the ridge. Pale-grey local-limestone curtain walls ran across the steep 130-metre crag, with stepped terraces, rectangular tower blocks and crenellated parapets. Its irregular silhouette included staggered walls, ruinous buildings, grassy terraces and scattered trees on the slope.

Is Burgruine Griffen still standing or is it a ruin?

Burgruine Griffen is a ruin today. Stone curtain walls and tower remnants survive on the limestone crag, including low rubble-built walls and the remains of several rectangular tower blocks. The castle was substantially rebuilt around 1520, but the present complex is described as a ruin rather than a complete standing castle.

Who built Burgruine Griffen?

Burgruine Griffen was commissioned by Bishop Otto of Bamberg. The available information names him as the commissioner and says the castle was built by his order between 1124 and 1146. No architect or designer is identified.

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