Rauheneck Castle

Rauheneck Castle is a historic castle ruin located on a hilltop, approximately 2.5 kilometers west of the city center of Baden, near Vienna in Lower Austria. The ruins are situated on a foothill of the Baden Lindkogel, which is located on the right bank of the Schwechat. The castle offers a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape and the city of Baden.

History of Rauheneck Castle

Rauheneck Castle was built in the 12th century by Hartung von Ruhenecke, a nobleman who was first mentioned in an undated document, believed to be from around 1130. He was a vassal of the Babenberg dukes, who ruled over Austria at that time. The name Rauheneck means “rough corner” and refers to the rugged terrain of the hill where the castle stands.

During the Middle Ages, this castle, along with Rauhenstein Castle and Scharfeneck Castle, played a crucial role in safeguarding the traffic route from Baden through the Helenental to Heiligenkreuz and the Triestingtal. These routes were important for trade, pilgrimage, and military purposes. The castles also served as administrative centers for the local lords, who collected taxes and fees from the travelers and the peasants.

In the 12th and 13th centuries, the Rauhenecker family, also known as Tursen after 1200, settled in the forest located at the base of the castle. They established a series of small towns in a circular pattern, such as Alland, Mayerling, Heiligenkreuz, and Gaaden. The lords of the castle only required their subjects in the villages to pay minimal monetary taxes and provide forest services, such as cutting wood and clearing paths. The villagers enjoyed a relatively high degree of autonomy and prosperity under the Rauhenecker rule.

The Tursen family ceased to exist in 1384, and their possessions were inherited by the Walseer family, who were related to them by marriage. The Walseers were a powerful and influential noble family, who owned several castles and lands in Austria and Switzerland. They were also involved in the politics and wars of their time, often siding with the Habsburgs, who became the rulers of Austria in 1278.

Throughout its eventful history, the castle has been destroyed multiple times. However, it has always been rebuilt, and on certain occasions, even expanded. The castle underwent several phases of construction and renovation, reflecting the changing architectural styles and defensive needs of the medieval and early modern periods.

In 1477, the castle was stormed and destroyed by the Serbian troops of King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary, who invaded Austria and challenged the Habsburg rule. It is doubtful that the castle was reconstructed thereafter, as the Walseers lost their interest and influence in the region.

Rauheneck Castle was ultimately destroyed by the Turks in 1529, during the first siege of Vienna. The Turks ravaged the countryside and burned down many towns and villages, including Baden. The castle was never restored after this devastating attack and fell into decay.

The Doblhoff family later acquired the ruins and opened them to visitors in 1810. They also planted trees and flowers around the castle, creating a romantic and picturesque scenery. The city of Baden acquired the castle hill with its ruins in 1961 and proceeded to renovate them. The castle is now a popular tourist attraction and a cultural heritage site.

Architecture of Rauheneck Castle

Rauheneck Castle consists of two parts: the upper castle and the lower castle. The upper castle is the older and more prominent part, while the lower castle is a smaller and later addition. The two parts are connected by a wall and a gate.

The upper castle features a rectangular ring wall that dates back to the first half of the 13th century. The wall is made of quarry stone masonry and has a height of about 10 meters. On the north and west sides, one can observe small remnants of the original battlements, which were used for defense and observation. The south side has been designed to function as a shield wall, which protected the castle from the most vulnerable direction. The shield wall has a thickness of about 2.5 meters and a height of about 15 meters. It also has a round tower at the southwest corner, which served as a watchtower and a refuge.

The ring wall and the palas, or the main residential building, on the east side were constructed during the same phase. The palas has a rectangular shape and a size of about 20 by 10 meters. It has two floors and a basement. The presence of corner blocks suggests that the palas did not extend all the way to the southern shield wall originally. This could be due to the possibility that it was constructed on top of a 12th-century building that no longer remains. The ground floor of the palas has preserved chamfered, partly round-arched notch windows that date back to the first half of the 13th century. These windows indicate that the ground floor was used as a living and dining area, while the upper floor was used as a sleeping and storage area. The basement was used as a cellar and a prison.

The remains of a farm building with a cistern can be found on the west side of the upper castle. The farm building was used for storing food and supplies, while the cistern was used for collecting rainwater. The cistern is visible as a depression in the ground and has a diameter of about 4 meters.

The north side of the upper castle features a restored gate from the 19th century. This gate provides access to the lower section of the castle, which includes a small courtyard that was subsequently connected to the outer walls of the stronghold. However, since the wall structures of both parts of the castle are identical, it is advisable for both sections to adhere to a consistent architectural plan. The lower part of the main castle features an enclosing wall with rounded corners, which was constructed in the first half of the 13th century. The Sally Gate located in the northern wall is from the 19th century. It was used for emergency exits and surprise attacks.

On the eastern side of the courtyard, there is a partially reconstructed residential building that dates back to the 19th century. The reconstruction was based on dendrochronological evidence, which determined that the original structure was built in 1814. This building is connected to the ring wall, which was constructed in the first half of the 13th century. There used to be a portal in the northern residential building that led to the upper floor. However, it has now been walled up. From that upper floor, one could access the gallery, which was connected to the palas in the upper castle. There are two notches and remarkable round windows on the upper floor of the east wall. These windows were probably used for lighting and ventilation.

The chapel, which was built in the first half of the 13th century, is oriented towards the south.Located in the north-west corner of the courtyard, this structure is intricately connected to the ring wall, suggesting that it likely originated from a consistent architectural design.The apse, which does not have any windows, is oriented towards the courtyard.On the east side, there is a portal with a round arch.The robes are made up of sturdy, blocky bases with a round rod surrounding them.The crest stone with a cross was included based on historical illustrations.Above it, there is a rectangular portal.This was the original access route from the Palas to the state gallery.At the south-east corner of the nave, there is a late Romanesque eaves stone with a decorative role.The west gallery, which is still visible, was situated in a hall with a flat roof.There are two round arch openings located in the west wall.The window in the northern part of the room is slightly raised, providing illumination for the gallery.The windows have been sealed with bricks on the exterior.The triumphal arch, characterized by its round arch and grooved imposts, serves as a separation between the nave and the recessed round apse, which features a calotte.The interior of the apse features an impressive late Romanesque mortar surface that is beautifully finished with a distinctive trowel texture.

Baden bei Wien, Austria