Hochosterwitz (Ostrovica) lies on a 160 m high rising and is one of the
most picturesque castles in Austria. The castle is situated 18km northeastern
from the centre of Klagenfurt and 7 km eastern from the St. Veit, which was in
the late middle age (11th-13th century) the capital of Carinthia. The first
documented name of the castle is from the time of Carantania, from the year
860, when it was named Astorwitza (old local dialect in Carinthia from that
time - hill with the sharp (oster) summit). The castle was addtionaly
fortified in a time of thread from Turks in the 16th century, and had 14
fortified gates with 5 drawbridges with the 'wolfs pits'. The castle with the
rich museum collection is a famous tourist destination nowadays. Text and
images
© Bostjan Burger, burger.si
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