Höhlenburg Rottenstein

The Rottenstein cave castle stands in the hills above the Drava valley in Carinthia. Its ruins occupy a narrow rock ledge 60 metres above the forest floor. The site was first fortified in the 12th century by the Ortenburg family. By the 15th century it had passed to the Counts of Celje. Rottenstein was never rebuilt after a siege in 1478 and now offers only remnants of walls and vaults. The castle’s dramatic setting makes it worth the climb. The rock ledge is just wide enough for the keep and a few outbuildings. Visitors reach it by a steep path that winds through beech woods. The Drava valley below stretches south towards the Karawanken mountains. On clear days the Julian Alps appear on the horizon. Inside the ruins the most striking feature is the rock-cut cistern. Sections of vaulted cellars remain intact. From the ledge there is a long view down the valley. The site is quiet except for birdsong and the wind in the trees.