photo : Michael Cote
Burg Lockenhaus is a castle with an unenviable history. It has a tale of mass murder that didn’t arise from the ways of war, but from the vulgarism of vanity.
And that’s where you’ll find the beauty tip, but please don’t try it at home!
Burg Lockenhaus
Dating from around 1200, Burg Lockenhaus is a castle and medieval fortress in the Güns Valley, Steiermark. It sits near the border of Austria and Hungary, mid-point between Vienna and Graz. It was originally called Léka castle (Hungarian name) and is part of the Naturpark Geschriebenstein (a mecca for walkers, hikers and bikers – who better beware if they wander too close to Burg Lockenhaus!)
The castle is owned by the Paul Anton Keller Foundation, which was established to preserve the castle after its owner, Herr Keller, died. It’s a now tourist attraction, though was originally built for the Order of Knights Templar.
Paul Keller owned Lockenhaus castle from the 1960′s. He was a prolific Austrian writer of animal and ghost stories with a strong passion for his Styrian roots, which is reflected in many of his works. His interest in ghosts ties in nicely with the horrors of this stately home, about which all visitors should be aware.
Countess Dracula
In the late 15th century the castle was owned by the husband of history’s most prolific serial killer, Elizabeth Báthory. She was accused of terrorising, torturing and murdering over 650 young women for sadistic pleasure – and reputedly to bathe in their blood to preserve her beauty!
Elizabeth was never tried or convicted of these cruel crimes, which included:
- abductions
- an abundance of atrocities
- beatings, biting, burning and mutilation
- freezing, starving and sexual abuse.
So impressive was the evidence against her presented at court by her co-collaborators , that Elizabeth was bricked inside a set of rooms at a castle in Hungary until her death some 4 years later. Wonder if this is where the name ‘Lockenhaus’ came from!
Her story has not unsurprisingly inspired many a tale over time, not least of which was reflected in the 1970 film, ‘Countess Dracula’, starring Ingrid Pitt and Lesley-Anne Down (famed for her roles in the British period drama ‘Upstairs Downstairs’ and the 1976 film ‘The Pink Panther Strikes Again’). Interestingly, one of Elizabeth’s relatives had been a warlord of Transylvania – reputed home of the deadly ‘Count Dracula’!
If you’re interested in knowing more about this interesting castle, you will find it along the Styrian Schlosserstrasse as well as many other charming castles, like the one at Murau near to Chalet Lowonahill.
