Schloss Seggau

Leibnitz, Austria

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Schloss Seggau, located in Leibnitz, Austria, sits on a wooded hill overlooking the town and has a history dating back nearly a thousand years to Celtic and Roman times, evidenced by a notable lapidarium of Roman stone monuments on site.

The upper castle was built in the 12th century by the archbishops of Salzburg as a missionary and administrative center and became the episcopal seat for the Styrian bishops after 1218. It evolved over centuries, with significant expansion under Bishop Johann Ernst Count of Thun in the 17th century, who gave it its present Baroque appearances including the richly furnished Fürstenzimmer.

The castle also includes a large episcopal wine cellar built in the late 17th century, one of Europe’s oldest, famous for wine tastings and festivities. Schloss Seggau remained the bishop’s residence until 1786 and their summer retreat well into the 20th century. In modern times, the castle has been transformed into a popular conference and seminar center with a hotel and restaurant, blending its historical grandeur with contemporary functions.

The castle is also known for the "Seggauer Liesl," the largest historical bell in Styria, rung by hand every Sunday and on church holidays. Schloss Seggau continues to be a cultural icon where history, art, religion, and modern hospitality come togetherSchloss Seggau.