ÖSTERREICH	AUSTRIA
Bundesland: Steiermark	Styria
Bezirk: Liezen

map →

Strechau castle is located in the north of the Palten valley in northern Styria and is part of the municipality of Lassing. The castle is the second-largest in Styria (after the Riegersburg).

The oldest stronghold in this place was founded in the second half of the 11th century. In the 12th/13th century, the castle was owned by burgraves who took it as a fief of the archbishops of Salzburg. In 1282 the castle passed to Duke Albrecht I of Austria and Styria. who had it administered by the abbot of Admont. However, the ownership from then on changed frequently. In the 16th century, the castle was obtained by the lords Hofmann of Grünbühel. The family also owned the parishes of Lassing, Liezen and Oppenberg, and called in Protestant preachers from Nuremberg. It was during this period that the magnificant Renaissance arched courtyard and the Mannerist frescoes in the Protestant chapel were created. In the period of the Counter-Reformation, the last owner was forced to sell the castle to the monastery of Admont. After that, the caste was enlarged and embellished in Baroque stye. When manorialism was abolished in 1848, the castle was not cared for any more and began to fa ito dereliction. From 1892, the castle passed into private ownership. Various subsequent owners restored the castle, which, however, finally remained unoccupied. In 1938, the castle was adapted for use as a NAPOLA school (National Political Institute of Education) and later served as a childrens' recreation home. In 1979 the castle was again purchased by private owners (Boesch Private Foundation). Since then, the castle was restored in an exemplary manner.