Description of the attraction
The ruins of the Hochwarth Castle (Hohenwart), also sometimes called the Black Castle, can be found south of the village of Kestenberg in the municipality of Velden am Wörthersee in Carinthia. It sits on one of the rocky forested hills at 802 meters above sea level.
The first and most famous owner of the Black Castle in the middle of the 12th century was the ruler of Carinthia, Henry V. Henry's brother, Duke Hermann, sold the Hochwart castle to the Bishop of Rome von Gurk I in 1162. His follower, in need of money, laid the foundation of the Carinthian estate in 1365. Thus, the Black Castle was at the disposal of the Count of Ortenburg. For some time, until the complete disappearance of their dynasty, castles were owned by the counts of Zilli. In 1456, the castle was captured by the troops of Emperor Frederick III. It is not known exactly when this fortress was abandoned and began to collapse. Historians believe that this happened in the 15th or 16th centuries.
Hochwart Castle consisted of buildings that form three courtyards located in succession. The oldest elements of the castle can be seen in the northeastern part of the complex. The main tower of the castle, dating from the second half of the 13th century, is half destroyed. It lacks the eastern part, which was adjacent to the outer fortress wall. An arched passage and some windows have survived in the tower.
In the outer courtyard there is a castle chapel, built in the first half of the 12th century and previously located on two levels. Now only the first floor of the chapel has survived. Also, on the territory of the abandoned castle, you can see the remains of residential buildings and dilapidated walls that in the past surrounded the entire complex.
