Schloss Gayenhofen

Between 1222 and 1245, the Counts of Werdenberg built a castle complex as the centre of the Count of Werdenberg and Heiligenberg’s dominion and county of Bludenz. From 1394 and 1418 to 1420, the castle was sold and thus transferred to Austria, and it was the Austrian bailiwick seat and pledge of the respective bailiff until 1806. After it was destroyed by fire in 1491, it was rebuilt. The medieval castle, which consisted of a keep, a palace and a connecting wall, was demolished under the pledge of Franz Andräs, Baron of Sternbach. From 1745 to 1752, the baroque Gayenhofen Castle was rebuilt using demolition stones from the old castle. In 1936, the town of Bludenz purchased the castle from the Barons of Sternbach and converted it into barracks with extensive interior alterations. After it was handed over to the state of Vorarlberg in 1959, Gayenhofen was again extensively rebuilt between 1960 and 1963. The northern wing was demolished and the square courtyard, which had been closed until then, was opened up and adapted into an official building. Since 26 October 1963, the Bludenz district administration has been housed in the premises.

For many centuries, the Bludenz Schlossberg also served as a cemetery before it was moved outside the city walls. This is commemorated by a gravestone at the exit from the church to the square in front of the castle. It is from Ludwig Schrenk von Notzing, who resided here as bailiff and with whom the Bludenz families had many disputes.