# Burg Liechtenstein

- **Country:** Austria

Burg Liechtenstein is a historic fortress situated near Maria Enzersdorf in Lower Austria, located on the edge of the Vienna Woods just bordering the city of Vienna. Constructed between 1122 and 1136 by Hugo von Liechtenstein, the castle serves as the eponymous ancestral seat and place of origin for the House of Liechtenstein, the ruling family of the Principality of Liechtenstein. The structure originally began as a tower but was quickly expanded into a larger palace complex during the 12th century. Its strategic location and historical roots make it a significant landmark in Austrian heritage, representing the family's long-standing presence in the region from the Middle Ages until the present day, despite a brief interruption in ownership.

The castle endured a turbulent history, passing through various families including the Stadecks before suffering severe destruction during two major Ottoman sieges of Vienna in 1529 and 1683. It remained in ruins for over a century until Prince Johann I Joseph repurchased the ancestral site in 1808. While he built a new palace below the ruins and designed a romantic landscape park with artificial features, the castle itself was not fully restored until 1884 under Prince Johann II, with architect Carl Gangolf Kayser leading the reconstruction efforts. Today, the castle stands as a well-preserved example of romanticized medieval architecture and remains in the private ownership of the Liechtenstein family. It is occasionally used for cultural events and stands as a testament to the resilience and enduring legacy of one of Europe's oldest noble houses.

![Photo of Burg Liechtenstein](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Maria_Enzersdorf_-_Burg_Liechtenstein_%281%29.JPG)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Liechtenstein (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)