Schlaining Castle

The Friedensburg Schlaining stands on the edge of Stadtschlaining in Burgenland, first recorded in 1271 as a fortress guarding a key north–south route across the Bernsteiner range. Its name shifted over centuries before settling on the present form in 1786. The castle now houses the Austrian Study Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution, founded in 1983 with backing from Chancellor Bruno Kreisky to foster East–West dialogue during the Cold War. The site is worth reaching for its layered history and its modern role as a peace hub. From the Güssinger counts to Andreas Baumkircher, whose 1471 rebellion ended on the Graz scaffold, the walls have witnessed power struggles and political change. In 1987 the centre was officially titled ‘Ambassador of Peace’ by UN Secretary-General Pérez de Cuéllar. Inside, the 15th-century Rittersaal still carries 1740 frescoes among the oldest secular decorations in the province. The Granarium now holds seminar rooms, while the Black Courtyard preserves three medieval cisterns and sgraffito decorations. Outside, the ‘forbidden path’ rings the moat, leading to the Burgarena’s stage and tiered seating. The Great Courtyard holds the Baumkircher monument and five chestnut trees planted to mark Empress Elisabeth’s Hungarian coronation.