I have always liked this castle – in the 1980s my wife and I lived just down the road for a year and we often went for walks in the park up here. It looks just like you would imagine a ‘proper’ medieval castle to look. All it really lacks is a moat.
If you are wondering about the name: yes, there is a connection to the tiny country of Liechtenstein (sandwiched between Austria and Switzerland). This was the original family castle of the Liechtenstein dynasty. It was built between 1130 and 1135 by Hugo of Liechtenstein. Over the centuries the castle changed hands several times and suffered major damage (by the Turks). In the 19th century it returned to the possession of the house of Liechtenstein, who restored it. The castle is open for visitors – although the entrance fee these days is a lot more than it used to be.
Maria Enzersdorf is situated some 22km south of Vienna and can easily be reached by public transport – Mödling station is the closest (and Mödling is also worth a visit) – but the castle is at the far edge of the town.
Below are a few additional photos of the castle from different vantage points.
It does seem the perfect stereotype of a medieval castle. Lovely photos, Professor!