Schloss Lankowitz

Schloss Lankowitz stands in Maria Lankowitz, a market town in the Voitsberg district of western Styria. Its origins go back to the mid-15th century, when Georg Gradner began building the present four-winged structure on a site once held by the Counts of Montfort. The castle passed through many hands, including those of Emperor Frederick III and the Herberstein family, who turned it into a moated water castle. After serving as a prison in the 19th and 20th centuries, it was restored and now houses private flats, offices and a local history museum. The castle is a three-storey rectangle of four wings grouped around a large arcaded courtyard. The main entrance is set in a square tower topped by a small clock and bell turret. Above the rounded archway are the coats of arms of former owners and a sundial. The former chapel inside the building is decorated with frescoes and has a noble gallery. Outside, the old moat, drawbridge and outer defences have vanished, but traces of the glacis and outbuildings remain in the landscape. Visitors walk through the arcades of the courtyard and enter the chapel to see its painted walls and raised seating. The museum displays objects that tell the story of the castle and the region. The building sits on a gravel terrace south of the parish church, a short distance from the main street. Occasional exhibitions and events are held in the restored interiors, linking the castle’s past with its present life.