Group 2 | Station 11
Castle’s Keep
Introduction
The castle complex is dominated by the six-storey keep, which was built around 1200 CE.
It went into partial decay and was restored at the end of the 19th century.
It houses a monumental chapel (Rupert’s Chapel). Next to the keep are the remains of an older chapel (Gebhard’s Chapel or Konrad’s Chapel).
Today, the keep hosts Friesach’s town museum.
More Details
Origins and Construction
After the earlier keep (or donjon) had been destroyed by fire, the Archbishop commissioned a new residential and defensive tower around 1180–1190.
The first four storeys were completed by about 1200, forming the solid Romanesque core of the structure. Around 1225–1230, the residential floor and the raised defensive platform were added, giving the tower its commanding height and fortified character.
Decay and Abandonment
The building was abandoned in 1803, marking the beginning of a long period of decline. By 1826, the keep – already roofless – was stripped of all its remaining wooden elements during early clearance works.
Only a few decades later, in 1844, the vaults collapsed, and the once splendid Romanesque wall paintings and stucco decoration of the Ruperti Chapel were largely destroyed.
Rescue and Restoration
In 1892, the keep was officially listed for demolition. Its fate changed when the Friesach Town Beautification Society, founded in 1881 by Hubert Hauser, purchased the valuable remains on Petersberg for 2,800 gulden.
With the assistance of the Imperial and Royal Central Commission and a government grant, the society undertook an extensive restoration, guided by Matthäus Merian’s engraving of 1649, which served as a historical reference for the reconstruction of the tower’s appearance.
Documentation
A wealth of drawings, reconstruction proposals, engravings, and photographs – displayed today in the stairwell – illustrates the architectural evolution of this remarkable Romanesque fortress tower, ensuring that the story of the keep remains both visible and comprehensible to modern visitors.
Image Gallery 1 | Keep’s Exterior
Image Gallery 2 | Keep’s Interior
Quick Facts
Structure | The Keep’s Architecture
Keep with Four Sides
The most dominant structure of Friesach’s castle complex is the keep. It is a four-sided stone structure. The tower tapers towards the top.
Four Wall Edges
The four vertical edges of the walls have been strengthened with larger rectangular stones.
Multiple Slits
The walls have multiple slits for firing arrows or crossbow bolts.
Windows and Wall Openings
Small, rectangular windows with iron grills can be seen on the walls. The east face of the keep has two interesting windows. The largest window on the south face has a pointed apex. Towards the top, there is a window with a single mullion and two round arches (biforate window).
Crenellated Battlements
The top of the tower has crenellated battlements…
Hipped Roof
The keep has a hipped roof. The roof has four sides. All sides slope downwards from a ridge.
Labelled Image
Map: 11
Stations: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12A
Station 9 | Jester’s Path
Station 10 | St. Peter’s Church on Petersberg
Station 11 | Castle’s Keep
Station 12A | Petersberg Castle Ruins