How many secrets do you think these stones hold? We are standing before Ruine Altentann. It was once a formidable water fortress. Its story is entwined with power struggles and changing allegiances.
Altentann’s tale begins in 1243. That’s when it was first mentioned in documents. The Lords of Tann, ministeriales of the Salzburg archbishops, built it. They aimed to control the Wallersee area for Salzburg. Originally, the fortress and Wallersee County belonged to Bavarian dukes. The Tanners built Altentann and Lichtentann to assert their power. They served as hereditary chamberlains for the Archbishopric of Salzburg, representing the Bavarian dukes until their decline. Around 1391, Altentann’s district included the land south and west of Wallersee.
In 1326, brothers Niclas and Eckart von Tann formed a community of goods. This included “our house in Tann with the court in Henndorf.” However, the “Tanner Feud” erupted in 1358. Salzburg’s nobility contested the transfer of feudal sovereignty. They did not accept it from the Bavarian dukes to the Salzburg archbishop. They also rejected the loss of their Vogtei rights or jurisdiction. Despite peace agreements, conflict persisted until the Tanners died out in 1396.
In 1391, a settlement involved Konrad, Duke of Bavaria, the Kuchlers Hertnid and Eberhard, and Archbishop Pilgrim. Altentann and its rights passed to the Archbishop of Salzburg. Nikola Pürnpeckh received the fortress as a fief. In 1418, Wolfhart Uiberacker and his son were granted Altentann for life. Virgil Uiberacker and his sons Ernst and Wolfshart followed in 1420. The Uiberackers held the Altentann court from 1444 or 1462 until 1693 or 1803.
Saint Johannes Chapel belonged to the fortress. It was supposedly consecrated in 1156. Income from three Thalgau estates maintained it. In 1764, these revenues shifted to the Golling and Hellbrunn palace chapels. The Chapel of Saint Johannes had ceased to exist by then.
After secularization, the Henndorf brewery, the Moser family, acquired Altentann. The Wehrle family bought it in 1933. In 1989, the Margo-Golfanlagen GmbH took ownership.
Originally, Altentann boasted a substantial moat. It mainly comprised a tall tower, adjoining stables, a chapel, four granaries, and a gatehouse. The fortress stood on an elliptical island about 16 meters in diameter. A walkway with two brick pillars led to the fortress. Around 1560, a ring wall was added. A farm, four ponds, a mill, stables for various animals, a garden, fields, a bakery, and a birdhouse were also part of Altentann.
A fire severely damaged the Uiberackers’ fortress in 1680. All wooden parts burned. Only the tower vaults survived. The palace and outbuildings were rebuilt and used as a granary. By 1701, the brick-built passages were so dilapidated they were to be demolished. That didn’t happen. From 1709 to 1761, people were allowed to take stones from the palace. Repairs occurred in 1762. Between 1770 and 1778, stones from Altentann were used for bridge construction in Neumarkt. By 1796, only ruins remained on a hill surrounded by fish ponds. The Hofmeierei in Salzburg used the former palace buildings.
At the end of the 19th century, only a small house stood there, surrounded by a nature park. Inside were a Madonna statue and a torso riding a dolphin. This remained until the Altentann golf course was built in 1988. Today, only the moat and fortress island are visible. Sparse wall remains and a recent well shaft exist on the island.
What stands before us is not just ruin. Ruine Altentann is a testament to centuries of power. It is a testament to conflict and change in this region.