Schloss Wildbach

Deutschlandsberg

The Wildbach Castle is a castle in the municipality of Deutschlandsberg in Styria. Its history goes back to the 13th century. Today it is privately owned.

Wildbach Castle stands a little higher in the Wildbach valley near the small village of the same name, about 7 km southwest of Stainz in Styria. The Wildbach vine, also known as the Schilcher grape, is at home here. Castle, wine and community got their name from the stream. The torrent was also called Laßnitz, Hohe Laßnitz or Klein Lasnitz until the late 19th century, whereby the name Laßnitz comes from the Slavic and thus from a much earlier time. The Romans already grew wine in this area. The Wildbacher vine, on the other hand, is a Celtic wine that even survived the great loss of wine due to the phylloxera. The Schilcher wine obtained from it is one of the most famous wines that Styria has to offer.

Documented in the 14th century, a residence was built in the area of what would later become Wildbach Castle, which was largely rebuilt between 1534 and 1540. In the middle of the 18th century, major changes to the building followed. At this time, the castle received its current shape. At the same time, the rich baroque and rococo decor on the facades and in the interior was created. The castle was portrayed in many old views and discussed in numerous publications. The most recent publication, which deals exclusively with this castle, was presented to the public on February 25, 2003 in Graz (see book review).

Today, the castle no longer belongs to just one family, but to an entire community of owners. In an understanding and responsible manner, the latter endeavored to exemplary renovate the historic and interesting ensemble of buildings at Schloss Wildbach. The renovations were made possible by good cooperation between the Federal Monument Office and the Styrian Revitalization Fund.