Castle Petronell
The history of the County of Petronell has been documented since the 11th century. As part of the larger estate of Agnes of Poitou, widow of Emperor Henry III, the County of Petronell was transferred as a feudal estate to the line of Vohburg. Petronell transferred from the Vohburg family to Hugo of Liechtenstein. When the Petronell line of the Liechtensteins died out, Petronell passed to the Lords of Kranichberg, then to the Knights of St. George, later to the family Unverzagt and eventually, by marriage, to the Counts of Traun.

The castle has seen much change over the centuries, largely due to its location east of Vienna, which exposed it to much destruction during times of war.
The first significant renovations, which modified a fortified castle that had existed for several centuries into a palatial castle, date from the beginning of the 16th century. Early in the Thirty Years War, in 1619, the castle was destroyed. The subsequent reconstruction and renovation measures began in 1620, and included the demolition of several older components of the building.

When the castle passed by marriage to Count Ernst III of Traun in 1637, it found an owner who decided to renovate the castle for the purposes of representation. The new owner engaged numerous artisans for the work, including some of the leading names in their fi elds. Dominico Carlone was engaged as the construction supervisor. He and his brother Carl Martin were at that time in charge of the construction of the Leopold Wing of the Imperial Palace in Vienna. At one time, Carlo Canevale also led the construction efforts. Stone masonry work was carried out by Giorgio and Ambrosio Regondi. Much of the stucco work was done by Donato Rueber, Johann Castello, and Johann Piazoll.

During 1666-7, Carpoforo Tencalla, a Northern Italian painter who was one of the most sought-after fresco painters of his time, commenced his work in Petronell. His most significant contribution was the interior of the Festival Hall, after which he also completed the wall paintings in the Sala Terena and its adjoining rooms. During the 1670’s Tencalla painted the frescoes in the gallery of the South Wing of the castle, as well as the old "Dining Hall”, the castle chapel, and several other rooms. He also completed the two altar paintings in the castle chapel.

In 1667 the West Wing, with the tower on the courtyard side and an imposing staircase leading to the Festival Hall, was completed as a shell. Tencalla completed the frescoes of the festival hall in 1669. Carlo Canevale constructed the stone bridge across the moat at the eastern side of the building during the same year. The North Wing was constructed during the 1670’s.

The immediate surroundings of the castle were also significantly altered during this period. The walls surrounding the castle were razed, and a park was laid out in the West. It is probable that the moats were also filled in at this time. The surroundings of the castle were designed to support the artistic impression of the architecture and to form an important component in the statement the buildings made about their owner and ruler. The park and the gardens now formed part of a larger architectural unity.

The renovation of the castle was completed by the middle of the 1670’s. The steps taken had transformed the fortified medieval castle into a baroque palace.
During the disasters of 1683, however, the castle was set on fire by the Turks and within a few hours was nearly destroyed.

After 1690, Count Otto Ehrenreich I of Abensperg-Traun, Field Marshall of the Austrian Army, took pains to restore the castle and initiated the restoration of the partially ruined frescoes painted by Johann Bernhardt von Weillern. By the beginning of the 18th century, the ruin left behind by the Turks had once again become the magnificent palace of a prosperous ruler. No significant alterations have been made since that time.

The chapel, the festival hall, and the inner courtyard with its portraits of Roman emperors, continue to attract great public interest.

Architect Walter Hildebrand took over the castle from the Traun family in 1997.

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