Weitmoser Castle - Schloss Weitmoser

Weitmoser Castle - Schloss Weitmoser, Bad Hofgastein, Salzburg, Republic of Austria.

   This building, dating from 1554, still exists today as the northern wing of the overall complex. Christoph Weitmoser died in 1558 – by then, mining in Gastein had already passed its peak. Thus, in 1604, the castle was sold to the industrialist Georg Leykofer, who added the newly built Stöckl, or front part of the castle, with its two rounded bay windows on the eastern corners. The altar of the castle chapel was consecrated in 1628, after Leykofer, a Protestant, had emigrated and the property had passed to Alexander Hölzl von Sylion in 1626. From the first quarter of theThe frescoes in the chapel, depicting biblical scenes, date from the 17th century and were painted by Ludwig Lindner. The room now wrongly called the Weitmoserstube, with its beautiful paneling and coffered ceiling, also dates from the same period. In 1634, Johann Riept, the parish priest of Haus and Schladming, purchased the castle, but his main heir, Franz Khuminger, died in 1691. The property then passed to Johann Pichler in 1701, to Georg Stuchner in 1712, and to Franz Benedikt Hasler in 1738. In 1752, the Scharfetter family acquired the estate, including the farmland, and has owned it ever since.