Burg Deutschlandsberg

About the museum

The castle rock above the Laßnitz was already settled in the Neolithic period; in Celtic and Roman times a fortified settlement stood here. In the High Middle Ages a Romanesque stone castle was built as the administrative centre of the Salzburg possessions in western Styria; in 1153 Friedrich von Lonsperch is named as the first castellan. After a fire at the end of the 13th century, a Gothic complex followed with a palas, castle chapel and keep.

In the 15th century Hungarian troops occupied the castle, and in 1532 it withstood the Ottomans. From 1595 to 1635 the Kuenburgs expanded it – their wing now houses the castle hotel – after which Salzburg castle captains again administered the lordship. After secularisation the owners changed; from around 1850 the complex fell into decay, and in 1876 the round tower and polygonal tower were demolished.

In 1932 the municipality of Deutschlandsberg bought the castle and began its restoration; in the 1950s and 1960s the keep and round tower were rebuilt. Between 1979 and 1990 the Steffan brothers set up museum rooms; in 1991 the museum section passed to the Gebrüder-Steffan-Stiftung. Since then the castle has been reconstructed step by step and the Archeo Norico castle museum expanded; it now shows more than 5,000 objects in eight permanent exhibitions. An outpost is the forest glassworks on the Glaserwiese, excavated by the museum in 2011.

Highlights

• Finds from more than 6,500 years of settlement in south-western Styria
• Exhibitions on the Celts and Celtic warriors
• Over 400 historic cutting, thrusting and firearms in the keep
• Around 900 objects covering 3,000 years of Styrian glass
• Circular route through the old castle, cistern and lookout tower
• Torture chamber and mineral collection

Permanent exhibitions

• Archäologische Sammlung – Finds from more than 6,500 years of settlement around Deutschlandsberg, from the Neolithic period through Iron Age graves in the Sulm valley and the Roman era to excavation finds from the castle.
• Historische Blank- und Feuerwaffen – More than 400 weapons in the keep, from Gothic swords and early hand guns to repeating rifles and two suits of armour from around 1600.
• 3000 Jahre steirisches Glas – Over 900 objects from Iron Age glass beads to Biedermeier glasses from the forest glassworks of the Koralpe.

Operated by

Gebrüder-Steffan-Stiftung

Admission & discounts

With the Styrian Familienpass, adults pay €8.80 and children aged 6 and over €3.90. The lookout platform, well room and Romanesque castle courtyard cost extra. The museum is a partner of the Steiermark-Card and the GenussCard.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Puzzle rallies for families with characters such as the Celtic duck Jodocus and the Roman hare Lepus.

Getting there & parking

By car via the A2, exit Lieboch, and the B76 via Stainz to Deutschlandsberg; in the town centre follow the signs to the castle. On foot, the visit can be combined with a hike of about one hour through the Klause gorge forest.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant

Castle restaurant (Haubenlokal) of the castle hotel on the castle grounds, Wednesday to Saturday at lunchtime and in the evening, table reservations requested.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Weddings, conferences and seminars via the Burghotel Deutschlandsberg (Burgplatz 1); the museum has a seminar room.

Plan your visit