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Schloss Ort (orSchloss Orth) is anAustriancastle situated in theTraunsee lake, inGmunden, 19 kilometres (12 mi) fromVöcklabruck, the gate toSalzkammergut.
The castle was founded around 1080 by Hartnidus of Ort, and improvements continued to be made into the thirteenth century - for example by Hartnidus V in 1244. In 1344 the brothers Friedrich and Reinprecht I of Wallsee purchased the castle, which became Friedrich’s sole possession on January 25, 1350. The castle remained in the possession of theWallsee family until 1483, when Schloss Ort passed toFrederick III, Holy Roman Emperor.
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From 1484 to 1491, the castle was governed by Gotthard von Starhenberg, theGovernor ofUpper Austria. In 1492, Bernhard of Starhenberg and later his descendants ruled the castle until 1584. In 1588, the castle was purchased by Weikhard Freiherr ofPollheim, but he sold the castle on April 6, 1595 to the city of Gmunden. However, Gmunden sold the castle toRudolf II that same year. The castle then passed to other owners before finally being acquired byLeopold I, Holy Roman Emperor.
In 1876, the castle was one of five estates in Gmunden acquired byArchduke Johann Salvator of Austria (John of Tuscany) (1852 – ca. 1911),[1] the tenth and last child ofGrand Duke Leopold II of Tuscany and Maria Antonietta of theTwo Sicilies, but on October 6, 1889 he renounced his title and connections to theHabsburg imperial house, changed his name toJohann Orth. and in 1890 departed forSouth America with hismorganatic wife on his own ship, theSt. Margaret.[2] Johann Nepomuk Salvator was presumed lost at sea in 1890, and declared dead in 1911, but his actual date of death is unknown.[3]
In October and November of 1912, the Habsburgs auctioned off the property and possessions of Johann Salvator, including the Schloss Ort estate. Franz Mayerhofer, themajordomo of Schloss Ort since entrusted by Orth in 1890, died reportedly of a broken heart early in proceedings.[1][4] The castle was acquired byFranz Joseph I of Austria in 1914, and it was intended for students of Gmunden’s schools to be allowed to visit the castle, but this plan was interrupted byWorld War I.[citation needed]
The castle was not well maintained between 1919 and 1973.[citation needed]
At present the castle is being used for a study center of the Federal Ministry for Land and Forestry (Bundesministeriums für Land- und Forstwirtschaft). On January 5, 1995, the castle was officially acquired by the city of Gmunden. In 1996, it began to be used as a location for theTV seriesSchlosshotel Orth.[citation needed]
47°54′42″N13°47′32″E / 47.91167°N 13.79222°E /47.91167; 13.79222
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