Princely Treasures - Palaces and Castles IV

Three watercolors by the painter Thomas Ender (1793-1875) were selected for the continuation of our series on the treasures from the Princely Collections. They show landscapes with ruins of castles and palaces associated with the House of Liechtenstein. The “Liechtenstein Ruin” (face value CHF 1.00) is known today as Liechtenstein Castle.

The original building was destroyed in 1683 during the second Turkish siege of Vienna. In 1808, the House of Liechtenstein reacquired the ruins and had them extensively restored. The “Johannstein Ruin” (face value CHF 1.20) is located near Sparbach in Lower Austria at an altitude of around 450 meters.

The castle first became famous in its ruinous state. It has been owned by the family since 1809 and is now almost completely surrounded by forest. At an altitude of 1,410 meters, the former Rabenstein Castle – now known as “Rabenstein Ruin” (face value CHF 1.90) – was one of the highest castles in Tyrol. It belongs to the municipality of Virgen in East Tyrol and is a popular excursion destination. The ruins are easily accessible for hikers, especially in summer.