landscapes - Austria / II. Republic of Austria 1973 - 7 Shilling

The brand image shows the castle Falkenstein in Carinthia. Actually one would have to speak of the Falkensteiner castles, because they consist of Unterfalkenstein and Oberfalkenstein. Unterfalkenstein is a restored, still inhabited castle. It lies on a steep rocky ridge dominating the village Gratschach on the Mölltalstraße. Oberfalkenstein is a castle ruin and is about 200 meters higher. The name Falkenstein, which appears for the first time in the 12th century, can be derived from both Falke and Walch. The second is tempting, as the English Counts of Gorizia were lords of both castles for most of the Middle Ages. From the old castle of Oberfalkenstein, a building from the end of the 11th century, the remains of the keep, more than 13 meters square, have preserved the foundations of the palace and the stable building. On the edge of the rock is the 1772 renovated and enlarged castle chapel, which is occasionally still used. The castle is surrounded by a defensive wall, which includes both the chapel and one side of the palace. Unterfalkenstein was originally, as in the early sources only Falkenstein is mentioned, a Vorwerk of Oberfalkenstein, a watchtower. It was built in the 19th century, not always the historical image, from the ruins to the castle.