Schloss Treffen am Ossiachersee: The witness of centuries

Anyone driving along the shores of Lake Ossiach today might not immediately notice the power of the stories hidden in stone there. A little further from the lake, on the slopes of Treffen am Ossiacher See, stands a place steeped in history for three centuries: Treffen Castle and its imposing outbuildings.

The Earth Moves

Around 1725, the valley's tranquility was suddenly shattered. A massive earthquake, one of the most powerful in Carinthian history, struck the area. The old manor house, then an elegant but modest building, was severely damaged. The walls cracked and collapsed, leaving it a ruin. But true to the region's resilient character, reconstruction began. Not from outside, but with stone from the local Treffen quarry itself (see the blog photo). Masons, stonemasons, and farmers worked together to build the new Treffen Castle and its outbuildings. This time, stronger, wider (the walls are immensely thick 😊), and ready to defy time and ensure that what happened could never happen again.

Four buildings, four lives

Today the estate consists of four striking buildings: The castle and the associated buildings no longer belong together.

The castle is now privately owned by a family from Vienna.

The old Coach House (our owner's house), where the horses and carriages used to be stabled, is currently undergoing a complete makeover and is being transformed into our private residence.

Next to the coach house is the Marhaus , once the servants' quarters and where milk was processed and stored. In recent years, it has been fully restored as a guest house with five very spacious apartments; the sixth is currently under construction 😉.

Then there's the imposing stable , the largest in the area (or so we're told 😉), which served as a livestock house. In later years, it would take on a different role, especially during the darkest period of the 20th century.

War Years: Occupation and Liberation

When World War II broke out, the fate of Schloss Treffen and its outbuildings also changed. In the early 1940s, it was occupied by German officers. The Coach House was repurposed as a command center, while the Stable Building served as a storage facility for war materiel. The staff were largely evicted, and the estate fell into disuse under military rule.

But in 1945, after the fall of Nazi Germany, British troops arrived. What remained of the Wehrmacht hastily departed. The British temporarily used the castle as a base for their recovery operations in southern Austria. The atmosphere changed. Where orders had once been shouted, now resounded the cheerful voices of British soldiers, gazing at the magnificent mountain peaks beyond.

A Place of Silence and Remembrance

Today, Schloss Treffen am Ossiacher See is no longer a military headquarters. Not a warehouse, not a ruin. It is a place steeped in history. The four buildings stand quietly and stately amidst ancient trees and flowering gardens, bordering meadows and forests. Birds whistle where orders once sounded, and our children play where tanks once rolled.

Private property

After the war, the castle returned to Austrian hands and changed hands several times. Since the beginning of the 21st century, Schloss Treffen has been owned by the Viennese family. They are committed to preserving the heritage, with respect for the past and an eye to the future. We've already had the opportunity to meet them and take a look inside the castle itself—it's impressive!

The other buildings

We have acquired the Coach House, the Marhaus, and the stables. The stables were traditionally used for cows, but were converted into an exclusive horse stable in the 1990s.

Ear to listen?

If you listen closely, you can still hear the estate whispering its stories. Stories of stone and quakes, of occupation and liberation, and of people who kept building. We've made a good start on that construction 😉. The sixth apartment is under construction, we're renovating our home and the outbuildings. We're also building a new life in Austria—exciting and fun!

Curious about how we're doing? Be sure to follow us on social media and see you at the next update!

Kind regards,

The Bruijne family

Ferien- und Pferdegut Schloss Treffen

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