Schrattenstein castle ruins

The ruins of Schrattenstein stand on a narrow rock ridge in the southern foothills of the Alps, near the village of Schrattenbach in Lower Austria. The spur drops almost one hundred metres on its western and south-western sides, giving the site a dramatic setting. The castle appears in records from the late 12th century, when it belonged to a local noble family called the Schrattensteiners. By the 13th century the family had died out and the Habsburgs took control. Later owners included the Hohenzollerns, the Hohenzollerns’ Brandenburg cousins, and the Hauenfelds. The castle’s history shows how power shifted between regional dynasties in the 14th and 15th centuries. In 1364 half the fortress was sold to Peter von Ebersdorf, who also became its leaseholder. The Ebersdorfers rebuilt the great hall in 1416 and strengthened the defences. Erasmus von Scherffenberg bought the crumbling stronghold in 1542 and sold it on to Johann Baptist Hoyos seventeen years later. By then the place was already described as a ruin, though finds from the early 1500s suggest parts were still lived in. Earthquakes and wars finished what time had begun. Today the ruins and the surrounding land are kept in good order and open to visitors. The rock spur still falls away steeply on two sides, so the view from the top is striking. Walkers can explore the remains of walls and towers while keeping an eye on the valley below. The site is quiet, with only the wind and birds for company. A short path leads from the village up to the ruins, making the journey straightforward.