Description of the attraction
The ruins of the Gösting fortress are located in the eponymous north-western region of the large Austrian city of Graz. The former castle is located on a steep hill over 200 meters above sea level. The distance from the fortress to the historic center of Graz is more than 5 kilometers, but in good weather it is worth walking to it, as the surroundings of the Gösting district are quite picturesque and provide many cozy paths and paths for walking.
The first defensive structures appeared here in the 11th century. Gösting served as a sentinel and observation center, since from the height of this hill there was an excellent view of the valley of the Mur River and the trade routes along this river. In the 15th century, the castle was greatly increased in size and took the form of a well-fortified fortress. From that moment, Gösting functioned as a defensive post and repelled the invasions of Turkish and Hungarian troops.
The Gösting area itself played an important trade and economic role, as there were about 40 different farms and mills that belonged to the castle. In 1707, these lands were acquired by the noble count family Attems, originating from the Italian province of Friuli. However, 15 years later, a tragedy struck here - lightning struck the powder tower of the castle, and a fire that broke out destroyed most of the building. The Counts of Attems decided not to restore the medieval fortress, but to build a new residence for themselves at the foot of the hill. This baroque mansion, built in 1728, has survived to this day.
As for the Gösting fortress itself, in the end only ruins remained of it. Now, only the details of the walls, the powerful building of the main tower - the donjon, and the small castle chapel have survived from the entire architectural complex. A museum dedicated to the history of the Gösting region and this fortress was opened in the tower. Also on the territory of the castle there is a cozy tavern with a terrace, from where amazing views of the Mur River, fields and hills open.
