Upon this hill stands Schloss Gartenau. Its very stones seem to hum with centuries of stories. This isn’t just a castle it’s a living testament to Salzburg’s rich history.
Schloss Gartenau’s roots stretch back to the 12th century. Originally a farmstead it was known as Grafengaden. The area belonged to the Lords of Guetrat successors to the Counts of Plain. In 1339 the estate finally received its first official mention.
Around 1400 Rudolf Trauner a Glanegg administrator built an impressive residence here. He erected it on land he owned outright a significant detail given the era’s land ownership complexities. The second floor still bears evidence of this period. Beautiful frescoes have been uncovered.
In 1430 Albrecht Scheller a wealthy shipowner from Laufen acquired Schloss Gartenau. He and his wife Wandula elevated the estate’s status using its name as a noble title Scheller von Gartenau. The influential Panichner von Wolkersdorf family followed owning the castle until the early 16th century. You can still see their coat of arms a marble masterpiece from 1495 above the east entrance.
The Rehlingen family owned Schloss Gartenau for approximately 200 years. However in 1718 it was sold to Christof Heidlauf. The Rehlingens retained ownership of the land itself a crucial distinction in feudal property laws. The castle underwent significant transformations under Jakob Khuen von Belasi and his wife Elisabeth von Thanhausen around 1570. The south wing dates from this era.
A notable restoration occurred in 1848 thanks to Eveline Freiin von Hammer-Purgstall and her husband Adolf von Berndt. They also initiated cement production on the Gutratsberg. Today that cement works are owned by the Leube family. Schloss Gartenau has undergone several renovations since then. These included works in 1886 1908 before 1936 and during the latter half of the 20th century.
The castle itself is a rectangular structure. A residential wing sits to the west. A horseshoe-shaped wing houses the former inn stables and coach house. The main courtyard is accessed through an east-facing gatehouse. Notice the slender tower at the southeast corner. That was once a chapel. Today it’s a secular room.
Schloss Gartenau served a vital purpose. It protected the Berchtesgaden princely provost’s possessions. It also monitored salt transport from Schellenberg and Berchtesgaden. The original road actually ran through the outer wall a testament to its strategic importance. Unfortunately the south gate was lost due to cement mining.
The architecture blends different styles showcasing the castle’s history. Gothic stonework survives around doors and windows. Fragmented 14th-century frescoes including a king’s head and a female half-figure are visible behind glass. The ground and cellar floors feature barrel vaults some with groin vaults. A spiral staircase connects the ground floor hall to the upper floors. The chapel on the second floor has a Gothic net-ribbed vault. Its windows are framed with Adnet marble.
Schloss Gartenau remains a private residence. Its beauty and history however continue to captivate all who gaze upon it. It silently speaks of Salzburg’s rich past a legacy embedded within its walls.