Burgruine Rabenstein

On a steep forested hill near Virgen at 1,410 m a.s.l. lies one of the highest castles of Austria and the third largest mediaeval castle of Tyrol.

The area surrounding the hill was already inhabited in the Roman period. The impressive "castrum virge" was built in the 12th century and was named "Burg Rabenstein" a few centuries later when it became the seat of the curator. In 1703 the curator abandoned the castle and moved to the underlying village and the fortress was left to decay.

Large parts of the complex stretching over an area of 4,800 sq m collapsed and only the load-bearing walls of the palace and the northern wall of the chapel dedicated to St. Leonhard, which is decorated with wonderful, still visible frescoes, survived to this day. The ruins underwent security works and can now be visited during a hike along the path starting in Mellitz. Please wear suitable shoes if you undertake this hike in the winter hikes.