# Weyer Castle

- **Country:** Belgium
- **Coordinates:** 47.260800, 12.318000
- **Location Text:** Wijer

Weyer Castle, known locally as Burgruine Weyer or Weyerturm, is a historic hillside castle ruin situated in Bramberg am Wildkogel within the Salzburg state of Austria. Perched at an elevation of 816 meters above sea level, the structure lies approximately 25 meters above the Weyer estate, just west of the village. Constructed around the year 1130, the castle was originally built to guard the strategic entrance to the Habachtal valley. This location was of particular importance because the valley contained the only known emerald occurrence in Europe, making the site a critical point for controlling access to these valuable resources. The tower represents a typical example of the small castles found throughout the Pinzgau region, a style of which the Felber Tower in Mittersill is the only other surviving counterpart.

The historical lineage of the castle begins with the lords of Weyer, with early records citing owners such as Rapoto de Wiare in 1130, followed by Chunrad, Haimo, and Berthold in subsequent decades. By approximately 1270, ownership of the property appears to have transferred to the Bishopric of Chiemsee. Although descendants of the original family, specifically one named Gerhoch, retained the title associated with Weyer, they held the property as a fief under the authority of the Chiemsee bishops rather than as independent lords. Today, the site exists as ruins, standing as a testament to the medieval fortification efforts in the Zell am See district. While specific details regarding its current condition or public accessibility are not extensively documented in available records, the remnants serve as a significant historical landmark linking the region to its mining heritage and ecclesiastical past.

![Photo of Weyer Castle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/Kasteel_van_Wijer.jpg)

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