Austria is where you’ll find the enchanting Forest Castle, a grand baroque fortress. Its history dates back to the late 12th century when it was initially built as a defensive stronghold. Over time, local nobility took ownership and in the early 1600s, they decided to transform the fortress into an elegant mansion, reflecting the prevailing Baroque architectural style of that era.
During the 1940s, the castle had a dual role as both a hotel and a restaurant, continuing in this capacity until the late 1960s. However, by then, it had fallen into disrepair, appearing abandoned and neglected. In the mid-2010s, a new owner stepped in with a mission to rescue and restore the chateau, preventing further deterioration.
In the summer of 2016, my friends and I visited the Forest Castle, captivated by the ongoing renovation efforts. The roof had been patched, and piles of tiles were ready for future repairs. Despite the progress, it seemed that work had come to a standstill for reasons unknown.
A MYSTERIOUS TALE FROM THE ANCIENT CASTLE IN THE WOODS, WITH A BAROQUE SPLENDOR
Within the castle’s history lies a haunting story, rooted in a book that combines fiction with the authors’ real-life experiences during the 1940s. This book, penned by those authors, includes a section explicitly based on factual events. It’s challenging to differentiate the dramatized elements from the true occurrences, as my access to the book was limited. Thus, the following section draws solely from the material I was able to locate.
In a segment of the book, the author recounts their parents’ escape from the Soviets after World War Two, a quest for safety that led them to the Forest Castle. What they discovered was a scene of abandonment and extensive looting. While investigating, they stumbled upon the lifeless bodies of the castle’s previous owners. Tragically, each victim had suffered a single gunshot wound to the head, their bodies lying near the nearby hunting lodge. Remarkably, their emaciated pet dogs were standing sentinel, guarding the remains of their masters.
According to the author’s account, the castle’s owners had sought refuge in their woodland hunting lodge, fearing both looters and the advancing Soviet forces. Their desperate situation worsened when they saw fires nearby, an ominous sign of impending danger. In what seems like an act of despair, they took their own lives when survival seemed impossible. The precise balance between fact and fiction in this story remains unclear. Regardless, the enigmatic Forest Castle takes on an added layer of intrigue through this narrative.
