Burg Güssing

Burg Güssing stands on a forested hill in southern Burgenland, the oldest castle in the province. Built around 1180 by Béla III of Hungary on the site of a former Benedictine abbey, it was first called Újvár, meaning ‘New Castle’. The hilltop position once marked the border between Hungary and the Holy Roman Empire, making it a key military post. After changing hands several times in the 13th century, it became the stronghold of the powerful Kőszegi family. In 1524 Francis I Batthyány took possession and the castle remained in his family’s care for centuries. The castle’s long history is marked by sieges and royal campaigns. In 1273 Bohemian troops attacked the fortress, and in 1289 Duke Albert of Austria led a 15,000-strong army against the Kőszegis, capturing Güssing. Later, King Charles I of Hungary retook it in 1327 as part of his campaign against local oligarchs. By the 18th century its military role faded, and in 1777 all guns were removed. Prince Philipp Batthyány-Strattmann later founded a preservation society in 1870 to protect the ageing structure. Visitors today walk through medieval walls and vaulted halls that tell these stories. Summer brings open-air theatre, concerts and readings on the grounds. Inside, a family museum displays artefacts from the Batthyány era. The hilltop offers wide views over the surrounding forests and farmland. The castle’s stone buildings, rebuilt over centuries, still show traces of royal and noble life.