Mauterndorf castle

Austria

The Austrian castle Mauterndorf is located on a high hill at the entrance to the picturesque Taurachtal valley, not far from Hohe Tauern - a mountain peak. In the Middle Ages, this fortification served as an excellent defense against frequent raids by foreign troops, there was also a customs point that controlled the import of goods - it was here that one of the largest trade routes in Europe passed. The construction of the castle began in 1253 with the construction of a fortress wall, a large four-story palace and a prison. After a while, turrets and one more fortress wall were built up to the castle. Over the next century, it was expanded several times and decorated inside. The walls were decorated with frescoes and coats of arms.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the castle was transferred to state ownership. But it was soon bought by the Berlin doctor Hermann von Epenstein. After the death of the doctor, his widow donated the castle to Hermann Goering. In 1968, the palace was again transferred to the ownership of the city and now operates as a museum. There is a museum of local lore, a museum of hunting trophies and a museum of historical costumes.