Description of the attraction
The ruins of Petersberg Castle are located on a hill above the city of Friesach, located on the banks of the Metnitz River in Carinthia. The city of Frisach was first mentioned in 860, when King Louis of Germany gave it to Archbishop Adalvin of Salzburg. The castle on Mount Petersberg, which means "Mount Peter" in translation, appeared much later - in 1076. It was built by order of Archbishop Gerhard in a place from where you could get to the pass through the Alps. Thus, the defenders of the castle gained control of the road to the pass and prevented the army of Emperor Henry IV from crossing the Alps.
In general, the castle, or rather what remains of it, remembers many famous personalities who feasted in its halls. This is Frederick Barbarossa, who captured Petersberg Castle in 1170, and Richard the Lionheart, who was passing here on his way to England.
A major reconstruction of the fortress took place in 1495, when the castle was owned by the Salzburg archbishop Leonard von Koitschach. In 1673, the castle was damaged by fire and then abandoned by everyone. Nowadays, the picturesque ruins have become a venue for theater festivals.
The dominant feature of the dilapidated castle complex is the defensive tower, built in 1200 and restored at the end of the 19th century. Previously, it housed the magnificent chapel of St. Rupert, in which wall paintings from the first half of the 12th century have survived. Currently, it houses the museum of the city of Friesach. Next to the tower, there are the remains of another old chapel, consecrated in honor of St. Conrad.
The palace on the south side of the courtyard is also well preserved. It is a long, three-story arched building from the 16th century, which currently houses a restaurant.
