Picture this Schloss Sachsengang a medieval fortress. It stands proudly on the edge of the Danube wetlands. This isn’t just any castle. Schloss Sachsengang has a history spanning centuries. It began as a fortified settlement. The island was once called Sachsonaganc. This name points to Saxon settlers. They arrived long ago. They lived in the Danube’s extensive floodplains and marshes.
In 1021 Emperor Henry II gifted the island to Weihenstephan monastery. Later it went to Freising abbey. The Sachsengang family also served as vassals to the bishops of Freising. These bishops had estates in Gablitz near Vienna.
Towards the end of the 11th century the construction of the Feste Sachsengang began. This early fortification is the ancestor of the Schloss Sachsengang we see today. After 1137 Bishop Otto of Freising built a village nearby. This village was dedicated to Saint James. It was initially called Ottendorf. Later it became Pischolfsdorf then Pischelsdorf and finally Pysdorf. Sadly the village likely burned down during the first Turkish siege in 1529.
Schloss Sachsengang has changed hands many times. It was owned by the House of Habsburg. They used it as a hunting lodge in the mid-16th century. Later it belonged to the Berchtold family. That was from 1590 to 1652. The castle also was a property of the Vicedomate. Then Johann Konrad von Richthausen and Jakob von Thavonat acquired it. Later the Clam-Martinic family owned the Schloss.
Today it belongs to several families. The Ettmayers Nagerls Niemanns Erbs von Hennebergs and Gabardi-Nagerls all share ownership. The castle’s architecture is a captivating blend of styles. A stone bridge connects the outer courtyard to the main castle. This main castle has a three-story building around a polygonal courtyard. It was built between 1654 and 1672. The castle walls however are much older. The northern part features a four-story tower. It’s a former keep. This tower boasts crenellations and a small polygonal turret. The castle walls themselves are a testament to its resilience. They were successfully defended against the French in 1809. Two stone tablets show the years 1809 and 1945. They mark important moments in the castle’s history. You can still see the coat of arms of the Thavonat family. This is above the entrance to the gatehouse.
Schloss Sachsengang is more than just stones and mortar. It is a living testament to centuries of history. It’s a place where the whispers of emperors and the echoes of battles intertwine. It’s a place that continues to thrive. It does so thanks to the families who cherish and maintain this remarkable piece of Austrian heritage.