Einödhof, Apfelberg

The tower of the Einödhof ruin stands on the edge of Knittelfeld in the Murtal valley. It is part of a small scattered settlement that once belonged to the former municipality of Apfelberg. The tower is protected by law as a historic monument. The area remains largely agricultural, with two large farms and a smaller holding nearby. The older farm buildings lie to the west, while the newer houses to the east were built mostly in the 20th and 21st centuries. The site has been occupied for about a thousand years. It began as the estate of Schloss Einödhof, which passed through many noble hands. Records show the Lords of Lobming held it for nearly ninety years after 1287. The Stift Admont monastery regained control in 1375 and turned it into freehold property by 1413. The Kainacher family then owned it for almost two centuries before selling it in 1609. Later owners included the Zach, Teufenbach, Galler and Attems families. Visitors see the main tower and fragments of the old walls. The largest farm, vulgo Einödhofer, still uses nearby fields and orchards. Its timber-framed barn dates back centuries and a modern chapel overlooks the settlement. The surrounding countryside is marked by scattered farmsteads and meadows. The tower’s quiet presence recalls the site’s long history as a strategic strongpoint between the Mur valley and the hills.