Artstetten Castle

Coordinates: 48°14′33″N 15°12′09″E / 48.24250°N 15.20250°E / 48.24250; 15.20250
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Artstetten Castle
Map
General information
LocationArtstetten-Pöbring, Austria

Artstetten Castle (German: Schloss Artstetten, pronounced [ˌʃlɔs ˈaʁtʃtɛtn̩] ) is a historic Schloss near the Wachau valley in Lower Austria, in the municipality of Artstetten-Pöbring. It is the final resting place of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg.

History

Artstetten Castle was owned by a number of families over the centuries until it was purchased in 1823 by Emperor

Francis I of Austria.[1] In 1852, Archduke Franz Karl of Austria became the owner, then he gave it in 1861 to his third son, Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria. In 1889, the property was given to Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria
, who made extensive renovations to the castle.

Formerly used as a summer residence by members of the

morganatic wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, who were assassinated in 1914. Emperor Franz Joseph I refused to allow them to be interred in the traditional Imperial Crypt at the Capuchin Church, Vienna, because of their morganatic marriage
. It also houses the Archduke Franz Ferdinand Museum.

After Konopiště Castle was confiscated by Czechoslovakia in 1921 as part of the confiscation of Habsburg properties under the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Arstetten became the Hohenberg family's primary residence.[2] The castle remains their private property, and parts of the castle are open to the public for visits.

After the

Soviet occupation authorities allowed the residents of Arstetten to elect Duke Maximilian as their mayor, and the Republic of Austria formally returned the castle to the family in 1949, being unable to retain ownership as the Hohenbergs were not covered by the Habsburg Law.[3]

After the death of Franz, Duke of Hohenberg in 1977, the property was deeded to his eldest child, Princess Anita of Hohenberg.[4] The Anita Hohenberg Trust was set up in 2003, and she and her family manage the property.

Coin

Artstetten coin (obverse)

The castle was selected as a main motif for a high-value euro collectors' coin, the Austrian 10 euro Castle of Artstetten commemorative coin, minted on 13 October 2004.

The coin's

obverse shows the castle of Artstetten standing above the Danube River on the threshold to the region of Wachau. The reverse shows the entrance to the crypt
of the Hohenberg family. There are two portraits on the left, showing Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie.

Burials

Sarcophagus of Franz Ferdinand, with his wife's sarcophagus on the right

Notable burials in the castle's crypt include:[5]

Literature

  • Stefan Haderer: Artstetten Castle: Residence and final resting place of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Este (1863-1914), Heir-Presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian Throne, Royalty Digest Quarterly, Vol. 1/2014, Rosvall Royal Books, Falköping 2014

References

  1. ^ Artstetten Castle history Archived June 9, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  2. The International Herald Tribune
    . Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  3. ^ "History". www.schloss-artstetten.at. 2021-07-02. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  4. ^ Schloss Artstetten - Proprietors Archived June 11, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Family crypt info Archived 2016-06-09 at the Wayback Machine

External links

48°14′33″N 15°12′09″E / 48.24250°N 15.20250°E / 48.24250; 15.20250