History of Kremsegg Castle

At the end of the 12th century the Rot family – also called Rufus – built an „Ansitz“ (a raised hide) on this site. In 1230 this was first mentioned in a document. Between 1283 and 1299 the building was converted into a castle, and then several decades later into a stronghold as a refuge for the inhabitants of Kirchberg and Kremsegg.

In the middle of the 15th century the male line of the Rots came to an end; Barbara Rothin married Andreas Grünthaler, a rich citizen of Steyr. In this way „Crembseck“ came into the possession of the Grünthaler family. The simple stronghold was converted into a handsome property during the period of their ownership.In 1662 Grünthaler was granted the status of an imperal free baron. A „Housekeeping book of the Grünthalers“ has survived and was published in 1994, giving an insight into the way of life in Kremsegg Castle at that time.
The merchant family Grünthaler, as a supporter of the Reformation, was eventually forced to emigrate and give up their estates. The buyer of Kremsegg was their religious opponent; in 1627 the Benedictine monastery of Kremsmünster under Abbot Anton Wolfradt gained control. A coat of arms over the entrance to the castle building indicates to this day who owned the castle at that time.
At the beginning of the 18th century the stronghold, under the rule of Abbot Martin III Resch, was presumably in a state of disrepair. It was largely demolished, and under Abbot Alexander II Strasser rebuilt as the castle we know today. It is assumed that the prominent monastery architect Carl Antonio Carlone (c. 1635–1708), who originally came from Milan, is responsible for its present Baroque form, since in 1680 he began with the baroquization of the monastery of Kremsmünster.
In 1813 the ammunition and clothing of the defence militia were stored in the manor house. After 1848 the monastery no longer had a use for the castle, and the following years it changed hands many times.

In 1929 Countess Therese Kinsky von Wchinitz-Tettan (1902–1973) bought the property. After she died her heir Count Cernyn sold the castle to the industrial family Lutzky. They renovated the building and allowed the public access to their beautiful property. An operating company was founded, tennis courts were constructed inside and out and in addition a café was built. In the castle various events such as concerts, balls, poetry readings and so on took place. Werner Lutzky's great passion for collecting Old Timers led to the creation of a motor museum in the former farm buildings of the castle estate. The owner of the castle also had the castle tower rebuilt on a smaller scale, which was derelict after being destroyed by lightning.

After a period of economic difficulties and the transfer of the firm Lutzky Glass to the Vetropak Holding AG, the newly-founded sponsoring association Musica Kremsmünster took over the castle estate in 1996. Most of the extensive collection of cars was taken to Hartberg in Styria.
On 22nd October 1996 the Museum of Muscal Instruments opened with its first exhibition „Wind music rarities – wind instruments through the ages“. Today there are five permanent exhibitions devoted to musical instruments and composers to be seen at Kremsegg Castle. Changing exhibitions and special exhibitions provide incentives for further visits to the museum.