A place where History comes alive
The history of Schloss Mittersill
Around 1150, the Counts of Lechsgemünd in Bavaria had the first castle built to control the important road in the valley. In the first half of the 13th century, Schloss Mittersill came into the possession of the Archbishopric of Salzburg through an exchange and became the seat of the governor for the Upper Pinzgau.
The fortress was captured and burned during the peasant uprisings in 1526. The Archbishop of Salzburg subsequently had the fortifications extended. The year of completion, 1528, can still be seen above the archway.
Property of many lords
After the end of the Archbishopric of Salzburg in 1803, Schloss Mittersill changed hands frequently. It passed into state ownership and into various private hands. In the 1930s, it was acquired by Baron Hubert von Pantz, an entrepreneur with excellent connections in aristocratic circles.
What followed was a heyday: aristocrats, industrialists and film stars met at the castle in Salzburger Land, Mittersill was “in”.
Royal honeymoon at the castle
During this time, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands also spent her honeymoon here for several weeks – an impressive testimony to this special period in the castle’s history.
New castle stories
After the dark period of National Socialism, castle life flourished again. The fortress was returned to its owner, Baron von Pantz, who extensively renovated it. In 1948, the “Sport & Shooting Club”, the most exclusive club in the world at the time, was founded at Schloss Mittersill.
The jet set once again flocked to Pinzgau: Hollywood celebrities such as Clark Gable, Bob Hope and Rita Hayworth, glittering personalities such as the Duke of Windsor, Henry Ford II and the Shah of Persia were among the guests.
Mittersill Castle today
In the mid-1960s, the club decided to sell Schloss Mittersill. The International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) acquired the building in 1967 to use it as a conference centre.
In December 2009, the castle came into Pinzgau hands for the first time in its history. The entire building was extensively but carefully renovated and equipped with the latest comforts.
Today you can experience the ambience of a centuries-old castle and at the same time enjoy the high standard of a 4-star superior castle hotel.
