Castle Complex

Castle’s Keep (Donjon)

Today, 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.

Lower Castle Courtyard (in German: Unterhof)

Castle Administration Building (in the Lower Courtyard)
Most buildings that formerly enclosed the lower courtyard are now ruins. The castle administration building is the only one that is still well preserved. This elongated three-storey building was erected in the 16th century. It has an arcaded facade that faces the courtyard.

Castle Ruins (in the Lower Courtyard)
Ruins of some buildings can be found in the lower courtyard. Formerly, these ruins were representative buildings that were built between the 13th and 15th centuries (Eberhard II Palace, Leonhard’s Building).

Upper Courtyard (in German: Oberhof)

The upper courtyard is to the west of the lower courtyard. This is a large, fortified area that stretches to the top of the cliff (the highest point of the Petersberg mountain).

The upper courtyard has two half towers.

Fortified Gate Tower (West-Faced)

The main access to the castle was from the northwest through a fortified gate.  A part of this former gate is still preserved.