Riegersburg takes second place in Austria’s “9 Places, 9 Treasures”

The Riegersburg fortress in Styria finished second in ORF’s annual “9 Places, 9 Treasures” show, which searches for Austria’s most beautiful place. Only the Tilisuna area in Vorarlberg received more votes.

Perched on a volcanic rock above the hills of southeastern Styria, the fortress is considered the largest in the province and one of its most impressive visitor attractions. Its walls, gates and bastions follow the contours of the rock, and the fortress was never conquered.

Three museums explore life and history at the fortress. The witch museum covers beliefs, trials and cases rooted in the region, including the Feldbach witch trials of 1673 to 1675, in which nearly 100 people were tortured and executed. One of the best-known victims was Katharina Paldauf, the wife of the fortress administrator, who became known as the Riegersburg Flower Witch.

The weapons museum displays a collection from the former fortress armoury. Since Riegersburg was regarded in the 17th century as the strongest fortress in Christendom, the exhibition focuses on that period and includes weapons for combat and hunting, as well as ceremonial and recreational pieces. Visitors are encouraged to handle selected objects.

The fortress was first documented in 1128 under the name Ruotkerspurch, derived from the name of its owner, Rüdiger. One of its most prominent historical figures was Elisabeth Katharina Wechsler, known as the Gallerin or “Bad Liesl.” She took charge of the estate rather than leaving its management to her husband and helped give the extensive fortifications their present form.

Friedrich and Annemarie Liechtenstein moved to the fortress in 1972 and began its development as a tourist attraction. Since 2009, Emanuel Liechtenstein and his family have been responsible for its upkeep. The family also established a birds of prey centre, where eagles, falcons and owls feature in flying displays. Via ferrata routes on the volcanic rock, guided tours, children’s activities, a playground and a tavern are among the other visitor attractions.