Schloss Matzen

The building, located on a hill in Matzen in the Tyrolean municipality of Reith im Alpbachtal, was built on an old Roman settlement - initially in the Romanesque style, later followed by a gothic construction phase.

First mentioned in the 12th century, it was owned by the noble family Freundsberg. From the second half of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century, the owners changed more rapidly than any spirit could be redeemed. In the 18th and 19th centuries, after a fire, the decay process finally began. The dilapidated castle fell into a deep sleep before being revived towards the end of the 19th century and further converted into a castle as part of the renovation. The rescue is mainly due to the Irish buyer, Ms. Fanny Reade of Mount Heaton-Grohmann, whose son also developed a great enthusiasm for Tyrol. The books he wrote contributed to making Tyrol's regional customs and the beauty of its nature known and popular among Britons and Americans. Even the former US President Theodore Roosevelt, a hunting friend of the author and mountaineer, is said to have spent some time at Matzen Castle.

When the Second World War raged across the globe, a secure place was sought to store the exhibits of the Ferdinandeum State Museum and the Tyrol State Library. And because castles were quite suitable for this purpose due to their history, it was decided to store the treasures at Matzen Castle.

After further changes of ownership (a captain and an architect), the castle was acquired in 2008 by its current owners and now offers not only wedding facilities, enchanting rooms, and opulent suites, but also a wellness area in the tower. Today, steam rises from the Finnish sauna and the Turkish steam bath in the old keep. An infrared cabin provides healing warmth, and the fitness room allows for a unique training opportunity behind thick stone walls.

Afterwards, you can relax in the rest area with snuggle bays or in the relaxation lounge in the tower peak with a view to kneel down. A characteristic of this “Butter Barrel Tower” is that the upper part of the tower has a smaller diameter than the lower section - a rarity in North Tyrol.

Inside the complex, there is also a chapel built in the gothic style, with a Baroque altar where several couples have already exchanged their vows. The knights' hall creates a cozy place with its open fireplace, where you can feel the history of the house with every breath.

Like the castle itself, the adjacent farmstead, which now houses the restaurant Gut Matzen, is also under historical protection. Cafe, bar, bodega, or the rustic parlor - an elegant mix of nostalgia and modernity awaits you for dining under the cross vaults with crystal chandeliers and expansive upholstered furniture.

The 200,000 square meter castle park, also known as Matzenpark, is a landscape garden in the noble English style. This idyll is listed among the most significant garden architectural monuments in Austria and is under historical protection. With the Lion's pond, the Carp pond, and the Castle lake, it has several romantic water spots. The so-called “Nympheum”, a fountain modeled after ancient examples, is intended to provide a home for the water nymphs. Around 40 different species of trees and shrubs - including some exotic genera - have taken root here, and especially the Old Tree Alley invites you to relax and stroll. At the southern end of the park, you will come across another architectural gem - Neumatzen Castle, which was built by a successful German publisher at the end of the 19th century.

The park is open to the public all year round and provides an ideal starting point for additional hikes, during which you can visit the other castles and palaces in the area. And there are quite a few of them after all.

For further information and bookings, please visit the official castle website.