Berneck Castle

About

Location: Berneck Castle is located near Kauns, on the opposite side of the Inn valley from Laudegg Castle, and in the Kaunertal valley. The castle sits on top of a large rock close to the river Faggenbach.

Location: The castle stands east of the end of the village of Kauns at 1,076 meters above sea level. To the south it is built directly on a rock face that drops 130 meters deep into the valley of the Faggenbach. In the west, a steep slope descends into the Kaunertal. The castle is only separated from the surrounding area by its slightly elevated position on a hill. The castle is of little strategic importance. It was most likely built to secure the traffic route over the Piller.

Owner: The castle was first mentioned in 1225, though the site contains evidence of a building before then. and the Lords of Berneck were named as the owners. Blasius von Berneck died childless in 1396 and the fief passed to his brother Zacharias von Berneck, whose marriage to Barbara von Laatsch also remained childless. The castle fell to Margareta, daughter of the third brother Friedrich. She first married Viktor von Firmian and after...