Discover Tollet: Castle History and Earth-Houses

Tollet combines castle history with underground cultural heritage and routes through the countryside. Tollet Castle lies close to the district town of Grieskirchen, on a hill above the Trattnachtal valley, and is the landmark of the municipality of the same name. Kulturama Tollet Castle and signposted walking and cycling routes complement the historical attractions. When looking for a hotel, you can consider whether you want to focus your stay mainly on architectural history, exhibitions or routes through the countryside.

Tollet Castle and its history

The first fortification on the site of Tollet Castle was built in 1170 by Ortlof von Tollet. Between 1601 and 1611, Hans V. Jörger von Tollet had the castle rebuilt in the Renaissance style. These dates mark two phases of construction: the original fortification and the later Renaissance rebuilding. The Jörger von Tollet family is documented as an Upper Austrian noble family from the 13th century onwards. In the 16th century, they were among Austria’s most distinguished families and held a leading position among the Protestant estates. The building and the family history thus offer two connected perspectives: the development of the castle and the standing of the Jörger family in Austria.

Kulturama Tollet Castle opened on 23 April 2009 and mainly presents special exhibitions on a range of topics. The exhibition programme complements the castle’s Renaissance history with changing thematic focuses.

Unterstetten Earth-House

The earth-house in Unterstetten is almost completely preserved. It consists of seven rooms connected by one horizontal and six vertical passages. The combination of horizontal and vertical connections gives the structure a different architectural layout from the Renaissance castle. While the castle’s history is shaped by its fortification and later rebuilding, the earth-house draws attention to underground rooms and the connections between them.

The Upper Austrian Earth-House Centre offers regular guided tours and excursions. Arrange dates directly with the centre.

Routes and directions

The Tollet hiking trail is a signposted walking route. The Trattnachtalweg–Aschachtalweg connection 105 is designated in Tollet as a walking and cycling route. There are walking and cycling routes along the Trattnach; upstream, they offer views of the local flora and fauna. When planning, you can choose according to your preferred focus: a signposted hiking route, a connection designated for walking and cycling, or riverside routes with a focus on nature.

Tollet Castle is accessible from Tolleterau bus stop via a short walk of around 300 metres. This provides specific directions for reaching the castle; the walking distance is approximate.

Discover more travel destinations: Bad Schallerbach, Pötting, Steegen, Gaspoltshofen, Meggenhofen, Eschenau Im Hausruckkreis, Kematen Am Innbach, Haag Am Hausruck

See the overview of the wider travel region: Grieskirchen.