Schloss Oberdorf (Neumarkt in der Steiermark)

Schloss Oberdorf rises above the village of Mariahof in the rolling hills of the Murau district. Built between 1596 and 1604 for Franz von Teuffenbach, it is a fine example of a Renaissance schloss. The four-storey building forms a closed rectangle with two corner towers on the main façade. Inside the courtyard, stone columns carry graceful arcades. Above the gateway hangs the builder’s coat of arms dated 1604. After the Teuffenbachs, the Freydenpichl and Strohmayr families owned the house. A 1957 report by the Styrian conservation office found roofs missing and a tower in ruins. By 2017 the property had passed to György von Csoesz from Switzerland. The castle remains an important monument in the region. Visitors walk through the arched courtyard and admire the Renaissance stonework. The gateway bears the Teuffenbach arms and the date 1604. Inside, a panelled parlour from 1607 is now displayed in the Universalmuseum Joanneum in Graz. The two towers and the surrounding farmland give views across the valley. The building’s quiet presence and the well-kept grounds invite a slow stroll.