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Hello From Austria Medieval History Up Close At The Riegersburg Fortress And Explorations Of Styria s Volcano Region II
e were planning to see which included the stunning
the other exhibition: baroque White Hall as well as the
“Legendary Riegersburg – construction of the numerous
Legendary Women”. Two very bastions, gates and the extensive
colourful female characters are walls surrounding the castle.
associated with the history of Several inscriptions above
this fortress. The first one was different gates point out that
Baroness Elisabeth Katharina von she spent a lot of money on this
Galler (1607 to 1672) who was the construction work. Her husband
lady of the castle from 1648 to incurred major debt and in 1649
1672. In a time of very she paid him out with a
traditional male-female role substantial sum of money and got
expectations the “Galllerin” was rid of him. Altogether Baroness
a very unconventional character von Galler was married three
and strayed from the usual norms. times and involved in several
Women, even aristocratic women, legal battles with her husbands,
were not allowed to own property and local clergy.
at the time, and Elisabeth, as
the sole heiress of the fortress, The other interesting female
would have had to relinquish any character featured in the
property ownership to her “Legendary Women” exhibition is
husband, but she refused to Katharina Paldauf who was an
comply. Even in her prenuptial employee of Baroness von Galler
agreement she ensured the right for whom she started working at
to decide over her property 20 years of age. From 1673 to
herself. 1675 she got embroiled in the
Feldbach Witch Trial and was
Baroness Elisabeth von Galler accused of having manipulated
initiated a complete weather and participated in witch
reconstruction of the fortress Sabbaths.The legends also say
that she was able to grow roses they pleased. Often a peasant
in winter, a talent that earned would require the permission of a
her the moniker “the flower lord when he intended to marry,
witch”. For her supernatural and onerous taxes were imposed on
powers to grow flowers in the the peasant class. These harsh
off-season she was accused being conditions actually led to many
a witch and was presumably peasant rebellions throughout
executed in 1675. Central Europe in the 16h
century.
Various displays in the
exhibition also shed light on the The noblemen on the other hand
historical background of the 16th lived a lavish lifestyle. An
and 17th centuries. Servitude and inscription at the entrance of
feudalism characterized the power the fortress indicates that an
structures during the Middle excessive feast during the 1600s
Ages, and peasants had a very resulted in 21 days of binge
difficult life while aristocrats eating and drinking. The
formed a hereditary elite that opulently decorated Knights Hall
was entitled to hold lands and was the location of many such
exercise far-reaching powers over bouts and a wooden bridge
the common people. The mostly connecting it with another hall
agrarian economy at the time was used for relieving oneself
obligated peasants to deliver a after all this carousing and is
substantial share of their commonly referred to as the
production to the local lords and “vomiting bridge”. Even today the
noblemen who in turn promised figure of a man bent over adorns
them protection during periods of the bridge, reminding people of
war. This was an era of extensive its original purpose.
exploitation and lords had the
right to use peasants’ land as We were awed by the lavish
detailing in the former living picturesque main square of the
quarters of the Riegersburg, in village and there is a large pond
particular by the Hall of Knights on the outskirts of the village
with its coffered ceiling and the that features a resort with beach
opulently decorated baroque White volleyball, a water slide, tennis
Hall. When we walked through the and eateries.
premises, the White Hall still
featured table decorations and We then continued our big country
leftovers from a wedding that had drive to our next destination:
been held a few days earlier at the Castle of Kapfenstein, about
the fortress. The castle today is 20 minutes from the Riegersburg,
owned by the Liechtenstein is also located on an extinct
family, an aristocratic family volcano close to the Hungarian
that has been living at this and Slovenian borders. Its
castle since 1972. One of the recorded history dates back to
family members had just recently 1065 and it was one of the
gotten married. The beautiful fortresses that protected Austria
flower decorations and wedding from attacks by the Magyars and
menus gave us an idea of what Turks. The castle was owned by
some of these historic feasts different noble families until it
must have looked like. came into the possession of the
Winkler-Hermaden family in 1898.
We had enjoyed our first-hand
history lesson and were ready to Today the castle holds a 15-room
keep exploring so we walked down upscale hotel as well as a
the long basaltic road into the restaurant with extensive outdoor
town of Riegersburg that sprawls patios that provide a stunning
at the foot of the fortress. A view into the surrounding
baroque church and several countryside. We picked a
restaurants anchor the beautiful spot on the terrace and
started perusing the menu. A them for a little backyard
wedding had obviously just get-together on my last evening
happened at the castle hotel in Austria. Both my friends are
because the bride and the groom avid motor scooter riders and
were still carrying presents out Luis allowed me to hop on one of
to their vehicles. We decided to their two-wheeled machines and
taste some local delicacies, and accompanied me on a little test
I enjoyed my mushroom soup with drive. I had ridden a motor
roasted buckwheat and a cheese scooter for the first and so far
platter with a broad assortment only time in my life on the
of Austrian specialty cheeses. island of Ibiza and was
exhilarated to have another go at
Our late lunch had stretched into it. After some initial balancing
the mid-afternoon and it was now problems and after getting used
time to continue our journey. But to adjusting the gas on the
before moving on we took a little handlebar grip we finally got off
15 minute stroll through a forest to a decent start on our little
and some vineyards to a small adventure and took an exciting
chapel on the plateau next to the spin on the local country roads.
Castle of Kapfenstein. From here
we had a perfect view northwards Twenty minutes later we returned
and through a magnifying viewer and sat down in their beautiful
we were able to see our previous garden, admiring the large pond
destination, the volcanic cone of that the two of them had created.
the Riegersburg. We all reminisced a bit about the
time in 2005 when my brother, my
It was time to return so we sister-in-law and these two
started our drive back to Weiz. friends had come to Toronto for a
We had made arrangements with our visit. This was the first time
friends Luis and Isabella to join that I saw my friends again, this
time on their home turf. We were Without a doubt this has been my
even thinking that one of these best visit since I left my home
years we should do a joint skiing town 21 years ago. Nine days just
vacation in Schladming in Upper wasn’t long enough to even
Styria, a phenomenal skiing explore the sights of my
region that is often the location immediate area. In addition to
world cup ski races and a place the wonderful connections with my
where my friends go skiing on a family and some good friends, I
regular basis. had learned during the last few
days that Styria, the region I
The sun was starting to set and was born into, was certainly on
it was time for me to get back to par with many other tourism areas
brother’s place and to start that I have visited throughout
packing my suitcase. I said North America and Europe.
goodbye to my friends and invited
them to come for another visit to Styria’s beautiful landscapes,
Toronto. Ewald, Anneliese and I the extensive opportunities for
spent another nice few hours at outdoor recreation, the
their home as I got ready for my architecture, history, music,
departure, feeling rather sad culture, and last but not least,
about the impending end of my the delicious cuisine will
trip. definitely make me come back
again.
About the Author:
Susanne Pacher is the publisher of http://www.travelandtransitions.com, a web portal for unconventional travel & cross-cultural connections. Check out our FREE ebooks about travel.
Published At: www.Isnare.com
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