Reiteregg Castle

Schloss Reiteregg stands on a hilltop in Hitzendorf, a village in the Austrian province of Styria. Built in the 17th century, it began as two joined buildings with stepped gables and a covered tower. The tower later lost its roof and gained battlements. A small chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary sits within the courtyard, containing an oratory and sacristy. The castle was enlarged in the 17th century by Ferdinand Ignaz Moscon, who added the chapel. In 1871 Leopold Haan bought the estate and gave it its present form, removing the tower’s roof and adding battlements. He also built a family mausoleum in the park. During the Second World War the castle escaped damage, so much of the original interior survives. The estate remains in the hands of the Haan family today. Visitors walk past a copy of the old plague column, its copper roof adorned with fruit and flower garlands. Four niches hold statues of saints. The mausoleum, set apart from the main building, contains the tomb of Lata von Brandis, a champion steeplechase rider. Inside the chapel, simple furnishings and a quiet atmosphere invite reflection. Beyond the courtyard, the surrounding hills offer views over the Lieboch and Söding valleys.