Schlossmuseum Kottingbrunn

About the museum

Kottingbrunn Moated Castle goes back to a medieval water castle; the oldest known parts of the building date from the first half of the 13th century, including a Romanesque portal uncovered in the area of the present museum. After destruction in the 15th century and in 1683, the Lamberg family had the complex rebuilt as a Baroque country castle with a chapel, onion domes and a clock tower. Later the castle belonged, among others, to the counterfeiter Peter Ritter von Bohr and, from 1894, to the Jockey Club of Austria.

In 1991 the market municipality of Kottingbrunn bought the castle and continued its restoration. Today, besides the municipal office, it houses a restaurant, the castle library, the castle chapel and the municipality's own Castle Museum.

The museum was founded in 1994 by the collectors Rudolf Mehlstaub and Karl Masilko at the municipality's request and displays its holdings in the state rooms on the first floor, decorated with stucco and frescoes. After the discovery of a Roman villa rustica it grew from four to seven rooms in 2007; after the general renovation completed at the end of 2016, the collections were redesigned. They deal with the history of the castle, the horse racecourse, the Wiener Neustadt Canal and the airfield, the economic development of the village, the Roman finds and prehistory, as well as Masilko's collection of fossils and minerals. The museum is run by volunteers.

Highlights

• State rooms with stucco and frescoes from three centuries
• Finds from a Roman villa rustica
• History of the flat and steeplechase racecourse and of the airfield
• Karl Masilko fossil and mineral collection
• Free exhibition “Im Wandel der Zeit” (Through the Changing Times) in the castle courtyard and stairwell

Permanent exhibitions

• Schlossmuseum Kottingbrunn – Seven rooms on local history from the Neolithic to the present, with Roman finds, the history of the castle, racecourse, canal and airfield, as well as fossils and minerals.
• Im Wandel der Zeit – Freely accessible display in the castle courtyard and stairwell on the history of the former water castle, guided by the castle owner and counterfeiter Peter Ritter von Bohr.

Founded

1994

Operated by

Marktgemeinde Kottingbrunn

Director

Dorothea Talaa

Admission & discounts

The exhibition “Im Wandel der Zeit” in the castle courtyard and stairwell is freely accessible and free of charge.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Four disabled parking spaces in the castle courtyard.

Kids & families

• Playground / play area

In the castle park near the moated castle there is a freely accessible natural playground with a slide, swings, zip line, climbing rocks and a bike course.

Getting there & parking

By car via the A2 Südautobahn, exit Kottingbrunn.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant

Restaurant in the moated castle and Tratschcafé in the castle courtyard.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Weddings / ceremonies

The municipality rents out the castle chapel, Steinsaal and inner courtyard for civil weddings and wedding celebrations; smaller celebrations in the conservatory of the castle restaurant.

Plan your visit