Herberstein Castle

Herberstein sits on a rock in the gorge of the Feistritz in eastern Styria and has belonged to the same family since 1290 - an unbroken run of more than seven hundred years, which is rare anywhere. The building grew from a medieval fortress into a Renaissance residence with an arcaded courtyard, and the state rooms and the Florentine garden below are shown to visitors. What has been added around it is a large animal park, run on the site since the 1960s and now organised around species groups and conservation breeding, along with a historical garden, a gorge walk and a museum on the family. The combination means it functions as a full day out rather than a castle visit, and it is one of the main family destinations in Styria.

What you actually see

• Seven hundred years in one family - held by the Herbersteins since 1290.
• A Renaissance arcaded courtyard - the residence grown out of a fortress.
• A Florentine garden - the formal terraces below the castle walls.
• A large animal park - species groups and conservation breeding in the grounds.

When to go

April to October; the site closes over winter. A day.

Honest expectations

Closed for the winter. The animal park dominates the visit and the castle interior is a smaller part of it. Ticketing is bundled, so you pay for the whole thing. Busy at weekends.

Nearby

Stubenberg am See is close; Riegersburg and the volcanic country are south.