Description of the attraction
Weyer Castle stands on the opposite bank of Lake Traunsee from Orth Castle. The distance from it to the historic center of the Austrian city of Gmunden is about two kilometers. Despite certain reconstructions, the palace complex has been preserved in its original form since its construction, that is, since the end of the 16th century. Certain parts of the castle, including the chapel of the Virgin Mary, are open to tourists.
It is known that already in 1446 this land belonged to the mighty Orth Castle, located just nearby and famous for its location - it stands in the middle of Lake Traunsee. The first independent mansion, which later grew into the modern Weyer Castle, appeared on this site in 1596. In the future, the castle changed hands several times and changed many noble owners, mostly representatives of noble Austrian, Bavarian or even Swabian families. In the turbulent years of the 20th century, the city school was located in the palace apartments. In 1981, full-fledged restoration work was finally carried out in the castle.
The palace itself, surrounded by a wall, is a complex of extended structures made in a rather unusual form - in the form of a hook. The buildings are mostly low and consist of no more than two floors. Also on the territory of the castle is a separate chapel, built in 1631 and consecrated in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is a rather small structure, all overgrown with wild grapes. The church is especially interesting for its interior - artsy vaulted ceilings supported by graceful columns. Also worth noting is the exquisite high altar, completed in 1696.
Several fountains are installed in the courtyard of the palace, and the walls overlooking this courtyard are beautifully painted. Now the castle is a private property, but some of its rooms are open to tourists. These include the silverware and porcelain museums, as well as an amazing tiny room in the southern part of the castle, where the details of the old stucco molding of the 17th century have been preserved.
