Description of the attraction
Rotenturm Castle is located in a small settlement located in the border region of Austria on the territory of the federal state of Burgenland. The distance to the Hungarian border is about 15 kilometers. The castle was renovated in the middle of the 19th century and is considered a masterpiece of the romantic historicism style.
Initially, there was a powerful medieval fortress surrounded by the Pinka River and an artificial moat. The first mention of it dates back to 1523. In 1532 it was seized by storm and passed into the hands of the counts of Erdödi, but after 8 years this medieval building was completely destroyed.
Despite the fact that the fortress lay in ruins for almost three hundred years, it was still the property of the counts of Erdödi. Around it a huge park, where deer and roe deer were found, became a favorite hunting ground. In 1830, a small mansion was built here, which fell into disrepair in 1972 and was dismantled. And in 1862, the construction of a full-fledged huge palace began.
In its external appearance, a powerful four-storey tower, reminiscent of the Italian bell towers - Campanile of the Renaissance, stands out. In another corner of the castle, an elegant two-story chapel was built with neo-Gothic lancet windows and a rose window on the opposite side of the castle. The chapel and tower are located exactly to the sides of the main facade of the palace, which is decorated with columns supporting a monumental balcony. This entire architectural ensemble is painted in a pleasant red color and additionally decorated with exquisite stucco and carvings. It is worth noting that several styles can be traced at once in the appearance of the Rotenturm castle - neo-Romanesque, neo-gothic, neo-Byzantine and neo-Renaissance.
Regarding the interior design of the palace, unfortunately, almost all pieces of furniture and decorations were destroyed during the Second World War. However, since the end of the 20th century, careful work has been carried out to restore the unique frescoes by Karoi Lotz. They also managed to preserve the marble figure of the Madonna from 1875. For a long time, the Rotenturm Palace was home to an amazing historical monument - the coronation throne of the last king of the Habsburgs - Charles I, who ascended the throne in 1916.
