The Mailberg Castle is located south of the historic center of the wine-growing town Mailberg in the northern Weinviertel in Lower Austria. The castle has been in permanent possession of the since the 12th century Sovereign Order of Maltese Knights and today also houses a castle hotel, a restaurant and the vinotheque of the "Castle Winery Malteser Knight Order".
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history
Mailberg is mentioned for the first time in a deed of gift dated May 3, 1055. In 1146 a local nobleman named Chadolt (also Kadolt), who is still remembered by a few place and field names, transferred part of his property to the then young man Order of St. Johnbefore embarking on the crusade after Jerusalem came to This donation was summarized by the order in a commander, which to this day forms the core of the world's oldest commander of the Sovereign Knight of Malta, who is continuously owned by the order. The structure of such a commander resulted from its tasks as a defensive building, farm yard, church and hospital. Depending on the size of those coming, a knight and priest convention as well as accommodations for the "serving brothers" and employees were attached.
Kadolt's nephew, Kadolt von Harras, claimed back the donations after the death of his uncle, but the Order of St. John no longer wanted to give them away. Margrave Heinrich II. Jasomirgott was able to settle the dispute on August 15, 1156. Against the transfer of two vineyards in Grinzing and some peasant subjects he renounced the inheritance. On September 11, 1156, Kaiser confirmed Friedrich I. Barbarossa the agreement and thereby notarized the Johannitern their property. The Order of St. John built a monastery with a hospital and a church on a small hill. Baptist was consecrated.
Located on the border between Austria and Bohemia, Mailberg was repeatedly the scene of armed conflicts until the 17th century. In the history of the province of Lower Austria, the "Mailberger Bund" a significant role. It was closed in 1451 in Mailberg Castle and is historically the first success of a corporate representation against the power of the German emperor.
Also the Reformation time left their mark. The convent gradually disappeared from the order and the coming as secular rulership came to the fore. to the middle of the 16th century. The religious house and the church are quite desolate and were abandoned by the religious brothers during the Lutheran Reformation. The religious house is also referred to as the "castle" for the first time.
Only at the end of the century will Karl Tettauer of Tettau Reconstruction and renovation of the building initiated. He had the old building demolished almost to the foundation walls and initiated an expensive new building. The ensemble, completed in 1660, is known from the well-known depiction by Georg Matthäus Vischer from 1672.
The castle is now in the architectural styles of Renaissance and des Baroque preserved, but older construction periods are still recognizable. The generously designed Meierhof in its current form dates from the last century. The castle church, which, like most religious churches, is consecrated to St. John, today serves as the parish church of the Mailberg community, but the adjoining hospital has fallen victim to numerous renovations and destruction.
Castle Church
The ex Ordenskirche at Mailberg Castle today serves as the parish church of the Mailberg community and was Restored in 2007. Originally built as a Gothic hall church, it was converted to Baroque style in 1609. The church is consecrated to the patron saint of the Sovereign Knights of Malta, Saint John. The centuries-old ones are worth seeing Grave slabs the order commander and the baroque high altar. It is the work of the Viennese sculptor Adam Pierar and contains relics of St. John. The altarpiece comes from the hands of the painter Joseph Biedermann and shows a motif that is unique in Austria: John the Baptist watches over the island of Malta and asks the Holy Trinity to protect the order fleet, which set sail for the 1571 sea battle of Lepanto against the Turks. The shrine of the late baroque canopy altar contains an image of the Prague Infant Jesus. The Mailberger Silberbauer organ, which was also restored in 2007, is located in the gallery of the castle church.
The castle today
After a Restructuring process With the aim of preserving the Coming Mailberg economically and culturally, parts of the castle were given tourist use by the order and extensive restoration and renovation work was initiated in 2007. The original bed and breakfast was expanded into a castle hotel. The historical one Knight hall and the fireplace room were adapted for seminars and events.
In the castle cellar the guests are spoiled with culinary delights and the Mailberg Valley wine cooperative opened the Schlosvinothek in 2001, in which the wines of the "Castle wine estate Maltese order of knights" to be expelled. The rebuilding of a Archives and Museum of the History of the Sovereign Order of the Knights of Malta are planned in the future. From 2010 to 2011 the rectory was extensively restored.
getting there
Train and bus
From Vienna Floridsdorf or Praterstern by train (R222 or S3) to Hollabrunn, then by ÖBB-Postbus (1021,1246) in the direction of Laa an der Thaya to Mailberg.
vehicle
Mailberg can be reached from Vienna via the A22 and E59 in one hour, from Retz, Hollabrunn and Laa an der Thaya in 30 minutes by car.
Opening times and guided tours
The castle and the castle church are open to visitors daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Guided tours through Mailberg Castle take place daily at 12 noon by appointment. Participation costs 5 euros for adults and 3 euros for children. For owners of the Lower Austria Card the tour is free.
Registration under Tel. 43 (0) 02943 30301 or by email to reservierung (at) schlosshotel-mailberg.at
shop
- 1 Mailberg castle vinotheque, Mailberg 1, 2024 Mailberg. Tel.: 43 (0)2943 30301, Email: [email protected]. In the Mailberg castle vinotheque, the 60 best wines of the Mailberg Valley brand community of the castle winery, the Order of the Knights of the Knights of Malta, have been tasted and purchased at farm-gate prices since 2001. The vinotheque is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. You are also welcome to taste all of the wines there!
kitchen
- 1 Schlosskeller restaurant, Mailberg 1, 2024 Mailberg. Tel.: 43 (0)2943 30301 20, Email: [email protected]. Regional and seasonal cuisine.Open: daily 11 a.m. - 11 p.m., hot meals 11.30 a.m. - 2.30 p.m. 5.30 p.m. - 10 p.m.
accommodation
- 1 Castle Hotel Mailberg, Mailberg 1, 2024 Mailberg. Tel.: 43 (0)2943 30301, Fax: 43 (0)2953 30301 10, Email: [email protected]. The castle hotel and the neighboring rectory offer 16 modern double rooms and five suites, with wooden or stone floors, comfortable double beds and satellite TV. The bathrooms have a bathtub or shower, hairdryer and toilet. The imperial suite has a living room with an open fireplace, whirlpool, round shower and two sinks. WiFi is available in all rooms free of charge.
literature
- Rudolf Fürnkranz: Viticulture is diligent ... Mailberg from 1850 to the present day. Edition Weinviertel 2005
- Leopold Auer: 900 years of the Battle of Mailberg: Special exhibition in Mailberg Castle. Working group Maltesermuseum Mailberg, 1982
