Description of the attraction
Thalberg Castle is an excellent example of Styrian high-altitude medieval fortresses. It is perhaps the best-preserved Romanesque fortification in the country. It is located above the village of Lafnitz.
The Talberg Upper Castle Complex occupies an area 90 meters long and 23 meters wide. Most of the castle was built in the Romanesque style. Two powerful square towers were erected on different sides of the fortress so that its defenders could observe the surroundings. The mansion itself is located in the eastern part of the complex. From the palace you can go down to the lower western tower. The 50-meter outer courtyard adjoins the keep, which, in turn, is adjacent to a three-story residential building, built during the Romanesque era and converted during the Gothic period.
On the ground floor of the three-story palace, there is the late Gothic chapel of St. Nicholas, which is a small hall with a central column and baroque stucco moldings. The chapel was renovated in 1910. The living rooms on the ground floor were restored in the 1920s. They needed renovation after the castle had been without a roof for a long time. The old coffered ceilings were irretrievably damaged and could not be restored.
The restorers managed to preserve some elements of the external decor. For example, there is also a Romanesque frieze on the east gate and two arched windows.
In the 15th century, Thalberg Castle was surrounded by a low wall, which has not survived to this day. Today the castle is owned by the Heinz-Giesslinger family.
