Schloss Ursprung

Gazing up at Schloss Ursprung, one can almost feel the echoes of its rich history whispering through the air. Schloss Ursprung isn’t a typical grand castle. It’s a baroque manor house, nestled in the Flachgau region of Salzburg. Its location, atop a ridge connecting Haunsberg and Hochgitzen mountains, offers breathtaking views of the Salzburg mountain landscape, including Untersberg and even Hohensalzburg Fortress. The name “Ursprung” itself comes from the Old High German words for “spring” or “source”, a nod to the nearby source of the Mattig river. Schloss Ursprung’s story begins in 1122, mentioned as “Ursprinch”, a simple inherited farm. Its transformation into a manor house began in 1670 when Augustin Friedrich von Hegi, a court and war councilor, purchased the estate. He acquired hunting and brewing rights, transforming the property. A fire in the late 17th century led to its reconstruction in 1707 by Baron Johann Friedrich von Rehlingen, whose family coat of arms still adorns the entrance. The inscription above the doorway commemorates this rebuilding. A century later, in 1823, Schloss Ursprung took another turn. Brewmaster Sigmund Hofmann purchased the estate, including the brewery. Ninety years later, the brewery closed under new owner Josef Sigl. By 1930, Schloss Ursprung became an agricultural model farm. The main building served as the residence. In 1962, the Republic of Austria acquired Schloss Ursprung. A higher federal educational institution for agriculture was built around the manor between 1965 and 1967. Sadly, the old brewery and Baron von Hegi’s residence were demolished in 1977 to make way for a parking lot. The manor house stands today, a silent witness to centuries of change, whispering stories of brewing, farming, and education, a true testament to the ever-flowing spring of time.