Experience Weinberg Castle

Discover Weinberg Castle and its history on a 75-minute guided tour. From May through October, you can join an open-house tour of the castle every Friday at 2:00 p.m. without having to register in advance.

A guided tour of the entire Weinberg Castle complex offers you the opportunity to take a journey back through the centuries. Let your gaze wander over the surrounding rolling hills of the Mühlviertel, marvel at the stately state rooms behind the imposing stonework, and discover why one of Upper Austria’s most magnificent Renaissance castles is enclosed by a medieval fortification. From early May through late October, small groups and individuals can also join a guided tour of the castle every Friday without prior reservation

History

The first landlords from the Piber family mentioned in historical records lived in the 13th century. From the mid-14th century onward, the noble Zelkinger family governed the Weinberg estate.

The establishment of Kefermarkt as a market town, the construction of the parish church with its Gothic winged altar, and the extensive renovation and expansion of the late-Gothic castle complex into a stately Renaissance palace all took place during this period. Due to the expulsion of the Protestant nobility—which included the Zelkinger family—Weinberg Castle passed into the possession of the Thürheim family in 1629, who commissioned Baroque renovations, such as the castle chapel.

By the 1980s, Weinberg had already fallen into disrepair, but in 1986 the state of Upper Austria finally leased the castle. Following a thorough renovation, the Upper Austrian Provincial Exhibition was held at Weinberg in 1988. Since 1989, this impressive Renaissance castle has served as an education and event center.

But it’s not just seminar participants who visit Weinberg—groups are also warmly welcome. To give these guests a high-quality experience of the castle, special guided tours are offered, during which visitors can marvel at the state rooms with their richly decorated stucco ceilings, magnificent tiled stoves, and many other beautifully crafted details, such as the door locks and inlaid doors.
For children, there is a special program featuring exciting scavenger hunts and worksheets that complement their exploration of the historic grounds.

In addition, information and display panels have been installed in the outdoor areas surrounding the castle and in many of the interior rooms, offering concise insights into the history of Weinberg and life at the castle in the past, as well as explanations of the iconographic motifs on the hall ceilings.