Vogtturm (Kastnerturm)

The Vogtturm, also known as Kastnerturm, is situated in the Fuscher or Thurnhaus in the town of Zell am See, located in Salzburger Land. It is positioned on the corner of the town square, where Dreifaltigkeitsgasse and Turmplatzl intersect.The name “Kastnerturm” is derived from the Kastner family, who owned it from 1789 to 1951. The tower is also known as “Fuscher-Thurnhaus” in the old agricultural region.Since 1984, the Vogtturm Museum has been located in the tower, which underwent extensive modernization in 2020.

The Vogtturm is a building of great historical significance and is a prominent feature in the cityscape of Zell am See. Alongside the parish church of St. [Name], it stands out as one of the most interesting and characteristic structures in the area. However, despite its importance, the exact age of the building and the identity of its builders remain uncertain, leaving us with only speculative assumptions.

The Vogtturm is likely the oldest secular building in the city, but there is limited historical evidence connecting it to the monastery mentioned in the Notitia Arnonis from 788/790. Similarly, the tower being referred to as the escape tower of the archbishops in the Salzburg documents from 926/927 is also only mentioned in rumors and lacks substantial sources.

Until the 13th century, the authority to construct castles and towers primarily rested with secular rulers or the nobles they granted permission to. Therefore, it can be concluded that the Archbishops of Salzburg did not play a significant role as builders during this period.However, it is worth considering the possibility that the tower may have been constructed earlier in relation to an aristocratic monastery and served a protective purpose. However, there are also many indications suggesting that it was constructed solely for secular purposes, serving as a stronghold for an aristocratic residence.

It is assumed that a defense tower of such magnitude must have been constructed by a prominent noble family, such as the lords of Pinzgowe. These lords are believed to have had close genealogical ties with the Walchers and Felbens, or possibly a significant connection to the lineage of the Counts of Weyarn-Neuburg-Falkenstein-Hernstein. In this context, it is worth considering the involvement of Tegernsee Monastery and the Hippolytpatrozinium of the town parish church, which is in close proximity to Saint Hippolytus in Zell am See and thus connected to the Cella in Bisontio.

In a document dated August 1, 1254, a source from the 13th century once again mentions the Walchers. According to the document, the Walchers made peace with Philipp von Spanheim, the Salzburg elect. The reason for this peace agreement was stated as follows: the Walchers had built a new tower in the archbishop’s court and had erected a floor in his church, both of which were done against his will. Additionally, they had taken possession of the bailiwick rights that the archbishop had purchased from the late Grimold von Saalfelden.

References to ownership structures did not become more concrete until the 15th century. Prior to this, the Walchers’ relatives, who were the Lords of Goldegg, had been under the feudal rule of the von Hundts since 1369.The tower in Zell am See is listed in the land register of Schloss Dorfheim, indicating that it is owned by them.Marie Jakobe, the sister of Christoph Dieter Hundt (the last male descendant of the Hundt family), married Johann Albert Savioli. It was Johann Albert Savioli who purchased Dorfheim in 1628.In 1660, Anna Maria Paggee from Tamsweg married Johann Konrad Stadtmayr, a royal Salzburg privy councillor.Maria Theresa von Küeppach inherited the property in 1719.She, in turn, was married to Friedrich Ignaz Lürer vom Zehnedtal.The family held ownership of the tower until the recent relief.

During a fire in 1770, the tower, along with eight houses and two churches, was affected. The tower suffered significant damage as the fire engulfed two floors and the roof.Before 1850, skylights were utilized for weather shooting, as it was believed that the sound of cannon thunder would deter the formation of storms.In the 19th century, the Vogtturm was used as a residential building.The bishops of Chiemsee also utilized the tower as a granary and as a place for the canteen lords to store their equipment.

The tower was inherited and then leased.The following individuals have been recorded as tenants or owners of the property: Matheus Neissl, who occupied the property before 1626; Wolf Kheil, a fisherman who acquired ownership through purchase in 1631; Wolf Huetter, who owned half of the property from 1638; Magdalena, a widow who acquired ownership through purchase in 1650; Georg Innegruber, who obtained ownership through a bill of exchange in 1661; Magdalena Schlipferin, who purchased the property; Thomas Mayr and his wife, who acquired ownership through purchase in 1699; Christoph Mayr, who purchased the property in 1702; Michael Mayr and his eleven children; Franz Mayr, who acquired ownership through purchase in 1783; Johann Kastner, who purchased the property in 1798, and then transferred ownership to his children Johann Kastner in 1805 and Johann Kastner in 1841; Maria Plachfelner, who acquired ownership through purchase in 1850; Josef Gruber, who obtained half ownership through marriage in 1851; Josef Kolbacher, who purchased the property in 1864; the merchant Johann Kastner, who acquired ownership through purchase in 1866, and then transferred ownership to Johann Kastner in 1885; Josef Kastner, who obtained ownership through a deed in 1914; Paula Kastner, who received ownership through handover in 1943; Markus and Theresia Faistauer, who purchased the property in 1951; and finally, Theresia Faistauer, who became the sole owner after 1964.

The Vogtturm is a six-story building with a hipped gable roof.The tower stands at a height of 23.5 meters. Its width measures 8.6 meters on the north, south, and west sides, while on the east side, it widens to 13.5 meters, resembling the shape of a trapezoid as it extends towards the lake.

Since the mid-20th century, there have been shops located on the ground floor of the tower, such as a tobacco shop and an antique shop. Above these shops, apartments were established on the upper floors.The top floor of the building lacked windows, but instead had viewing benches. However, the upper floors still had view windows that could potentially serve as a watchtower, allowing one to determine the time.

The banking house Carl Spängler & Co. AG acquired the tower in 1984 and proceeded to renovate the building.The property was subsequently leased to the municipality for the purpose of establishing a museum.The museum was able to relocate from the town hall at Schloss Rosenberg to the Vogtturm in the same year.The extensive collection, spanning four floors, primarily focuses on the local and regional history and culture of the Pinzgau district capital. It includes notable items such as a flat boat from Lake Zell, old engravings, and views of Zell am See.

The Vogtturm has reopened to the public in July 2020 after undergoing extensive renovation measures. It now features a new museum and an enhanced security concept.