Kuenringerturm Weißenalbern

The Feste Rauhenstein is a former defensive building in the village of Weißenalbern, part of Kirchberg am Walde in Lower Austria. It stands under Denkmalschutz and is a rectangular four-storey structure with a hipped roof. Originally it had a surrounding curtain wall and was built mainly from granite rubble. The site began as a watch and signal tower for the Kuenringers in the 13th century. Written records mention Ortolf von Kirchberg in 1289 and Rudolf von Rauhenstein in 1343. In 1592 Hannibal von Sondernhof is noted here, and in the 18th century it was converted into a granary before being sold to two farmers in 1752. Visitors find the main walls and granite rubble masonry still standing beside the parish church. The north side retains a spiral staircase from the 16th century. Inside, traces of a wooden fighting platform remain in the form of putlog holes. The top floor shows both rectangular and round-arched windows under the roof.