Castle ruin Gösting

Infobox Military Structure
name= Castle ruin Gösting
partof=
location= Styria, Austria
coordinates= coord|47|6|14|N|15|22|52|E|display=inline,title


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type= Castle
code=
built= 11th century
builder=
materials=
height=
used=
demolished=struck by lightning on July 10 1723
condition= ruin
ownership= Family Auer
open_to_public= yes
controlledby=
garrison=
current_commander=
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occupants=
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events=The castle ruin Gösting is the ruin of a castle in Gösting, the 13th borough in the northwest of the Styrian capital Graz, Austria.

Location

Due to its good strategic location, the castle controlled the narrow Mura valley north of Graz, which opens out into the Graz basin, and therefore the traffic and trade from and to Graz. The castle ruin, which is situated 200 m above Graz is popular today; there is a wide vista over the Graz basin and the eastern styria hill country.

History

The castle was built in the 11th century; the first record dates to the year 1042. It was permanently extended until the 15th century. In that century the castle was extended to a fortress in order to provide protection against the Turks and Hungarians. It was part of the signalling fire system, which should warn the population in case of danger.

In 1707 the castle and sovereignty was bought by the counts of Attems. On July 10 1723 lightning struck the gunpowder storage, and a large part of the castle burnt down. The castle was not rebuilt; as a replacement, the baroque castle Neugösting at the mountain's foot was finished in 1728 as the new Attems family's domicile.

Since 1999 the ruin and surrounding forests are the property of the baker family Auer. [Land register of the district court Graz] The ruin is maintained by the castle foundation founded in 1925.

Construction

Today only the chapel, keep, and remains of some walls are conserved. The keep now houses a small museum, and a taverna has been established.

References

ee also

*List of castles in Austria

External links

* [http://www.burgen-austria.com/Archiv.asp?Artikel=Graz/G%F6sting%20-%20Burgruine Ruin Gösting at burgen-austria.com]
* [http://www-stud.uni-graz.at/~moestlr/goesting.html Castle Gösting at a private website]