Description of the attraction
Neuberg Castle is one of the best-preserved fortifications in Styria. It is located west of the town of Hartberg, above the village of Leffelbach, at an altitude of 513 meters above sea level. This hilltop fortress is a good example of how the medieval core of a castle could have been incorporated into a more modern fortification.
The medieval castle on a strategically important hill was built in the 12th century by Gottschalk Schierling, who has been named Neuberg since 1166. The castle was built to protect the surrounding lands from the Hungarian army and "pagans" from the East. Messrs. Neubergs were related to the lords of Stubenberg, one of the most powerful nobles in Styria. When the Neuberg family dried up in the 15th century, their castle became the property of the crown. In 1507, Emperor Maximilian I handed it over to William von Graben and his descendants. But already in 1518 the castle began to belong to the Herberstein family, who owned it with some interruptions until the second half of the 20th century.
During the Renaissance, Neuberg Castle was significantly expanded and rebuilt in accordance with the rules of Italian fortification art.
Today the castle is privately owned. The oldest building of the castle is considered to be a tower about 36 meters high. The lower part of the tower is made in Romanesque style and dates back to 1160. In the plan, the castle is an irregular pentagon.
There is a beautiful chapel next to the castle, whose altar is dedicated to Saint Aegidius. The chapel was consecrated in 1661. This church can be visited by prior arrangement.
