Baroque Castle In The Forest, Austria

The wonderful Baroque Castle In The Forest is located in Austria. A castle has stood on this site since the late 12th century, when it was a defensive fort. Later it was owned by a local noble, who decided to remodel the fort into a residence in the early 1600s. Following the architectural trends of the time, the castle was rebuilt in a Baroque style.

The castle was used as a hotel and restaurant in the 1940s, and continued to be open until the late 1960s. After this time, it appears to have closed and been left to decay. A new owner purchased the chateau in the mid 2010s, with plans to renovate and save it from deterioration.

We explored the Baroque Castle In The Forest in the summer of 2016. Indeed, there were signs of renovation. The roof had been patched, and inside the entrance were piles of tiles for further repairs. However, as is often the case, it appears that for some reason the work was stopped.

A dark tale from the baroque castle in the forest

There is one sad story which is set in this castle. The story appears in a novel, which is predominantly fiction, also based on the authors’ personal experiences in the 1940s. The following tale is from a section which the author specifically states is based on fact. It is uncertain how much is real, and how much is dramatisation. I was only able to get hold of a small part of the novel, so I present this section based on what I was able to find.

In one section of the novel, the author’s parents are seeking refuge from the Soviets in the months after the end of World War Two. They arrive at the Baroque Castle In The Forest to find it deserted, and heavily looted. As they investigated the area they found the bodies of the previous owners. The bodies lay in front of the nearby hunting lodge, with a single gunshot wound in the head of each. Their emaciated pet dogs were nearby, guarding their former owners.

The author explains that the castle owners had fled to their hunting lodge in the forest, fearing they would be targeted by looters or perhaps even the incoming Soviets. As they heard commotion and saw fires lit near to their home, they feared the end was near. As all hope seemed lost, they appear to have committed suicide. How much of this is true, and how much is embellished for the novel is uncertain. Either way, this tale adds another dimension to the mysterious Baroque Castle In The Forest.