What if these walls could talk? Schloss Neuhaus has stood here since the turn of the 13th century. Today, we will explore its storied past.
Schloss Neuhaus sits on the K\u00fchberg in Salzburg’s Gnigl district. It once formed part of a defense system. This system stretched to the Kapuzinerberg and Salzburg itself.
Konrad von Neuhaus was first mentioned in 1219. By the 14th century, the castle belonged to the Archbishopric. Archbishop Eberhard III of Neuhaus expanded it into a fortified summer residence in 1424.
In 1508, Schloss Neuhaus became the seat of a regional court. Later, it also housed a state court. By 1599, the building was so dilapidated that the judge moved to Gnigl. During the Thirty Years’ War, the castle played a key strategic role. It helped defend the city with the Gnigl Schanze and Franziskischl\u00f6ssl.
After 1650, the castle again became usable for the court. However, lightning struck in 1695. The resulting fire caused extensive damage. The court had to relocate once more.
Before the end of the Archbishopric, the Neuhaus court oversaw several areas. These included Gnigl, Heuberg, Bergheim, Hallwang, and Eugendorf. It also included the Koppel Free Court and the Ursprung court. The parishes of Bergheim, Gnigl, Eugendorf, Hallwang, and Koppel were subordinate to it.
Oswald Graf Thun initially leased the castle in 1796. He then purchased it in 1811. From 1851, neo-Gothic decorations were added.
In 1921, Wolfgang Freiherr von Thienen-Adlerflycht received the castle as a wedding gift. Soon after, Adolf Graf Dubsky, a half-brother of Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach, bought it. Marie often visited Schloss Neuhaus.
Until recently, the Topi\u0107 Mimara family owned the castle. The painter Ante Topi\u0107 Mimara acquired it in 1963. His gallery provided a home for contemporary art. Currently, Schloss Neuhaus is a private residence. Hubertus Benteler, a German industrialist, owns it. The castle is not open to the public.
Schloss Neuhaus is a protected monument. The castle consists of a mighty residential tower. There is also a long residential building. The former staff wing surrounds it. Oswald Graf Thun added battlements to the defensive wall in the 19th century. The entrance to the castle is from the south.
The old residential tower dates back to the 13th century. It was raised to five stories after 1400. It also received battlements in the 19th century. Recent renovations removed many historical elements. A marble slab in the courtyard shows an angel. It bears the coat of arms of Count Johann Ernst von Thun. It comes from the former Ein\u00f6dhof in Morzg.
The five-story medieval residential tower dominates the complex.
Schloss Neuhaus has seen many changes. From its defensive origins to its artistic inhabitants, it stands as a testament to Salzburg’s rich history. Its walls hold stories of archbishops, judges, and artists. Though not open to the public, its presence enriches Salzburg’s skyline.