Heinfels Castle

About

The legendary foundation by the Huns dates back to the 5th century. Until the 16th century, the castle was therefore referred to as ‘Huonenfels’, ‘Huonifels’, ‘Huenfels’ or ‘Heunfels’. For a long time, it was assumed in historical research that the castle was founded by the Avars. However, in the course of restoration work between 2016 and 2020, building research was able to prove that the oldest part of the castle, the keep, dates back to 1210.

In 1239, Otto Welf de Hunenvelse, who belonged to the older lords of Welsperg, is mentioned for the first time as a ministerial who named himself after the castle. The castle was first mentioned in documents in 1243 and was owned by Freising ministerials.

In the 13th century, the Counts of Gorizia acquired Heinfels Castle by inheritance and, from 1275 onwards, developed it into an important base, which was also the seat of a court. It is not known when the castle came into the possession of the Counts of Gorizia, but in a contract of the same year between the two Counts of Gorizia Meinhard II and Albert I, it was handed over to the latter. This means that the castle must have been in the possession of Gorizia before then.