Tollet: Castle History, Earth Houses and Trails

Tollet combines a distinctive castle history with unusual underground structures, sacred architecture and paths through the Trattnach Valley. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment in Tollet can therefore plan their stay according to different interests: culture and history are just as much at the heart of the experience as walks, designated walking and cycling paths, and impressions of the flora and fauna along the Trattnach.

Tollet Castle and the Kulturama

Tollet Castle is located close to the district town of Grieskirchen on a hill in the Trattnach Valley and is the landmark of the municipality of the same name. The first fortification on the site 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. This means that several historical periods can be encountered on site in one specific building.

The history of the Jörger von Tollet family also stretches far back. They are documented as an Upper Austrian noble family from the 13th century onward. In the 16th century, they were among Austria’s most respected families and held a leading position among the Protestant estates. Kulturama Schloss Tollet opened on April 23, 2009, and primarily presents special exhibitions on various subject areas. For your travel planning, this means that you can combine the history of the castle with changing cultural focuses without reducing the location to a single attraction.

Underground Testimonies in Unterstetten

The earth houses in Unterstetten are a particularly special discovery. The Unterstetten earth house consists of seven rooms connected by one horizontal and six vertical crawl passages and is almost completely preserved. The Meirhofer earth house in Unterstetten also comprises seven chambers and is considered one of the most beautiful and best-preserved earth houses in Upper Austria. These differing descriptions also make the structures interesting for visitors who prefer to experience historical spaces in an unusual form.

The earth house near the house at (Nieder-) Unterstetten No. 5 is described as having three larger chambers, seating niches for up to 10 people, connecting passages and light niches. The Upper Austrian Earth House Centre regularly offers guided tours and excursions. When choosing accommodation for a culture-focused stay, you can therefore consider whether such tours and a visit to the castle should form the focus of your days.

Church History and Trails

St. Ulrich’s Church in Wödling has been documented since 1200 and is one of the oldest sacred buildings in the Grieskirchen parish. Its high altar is decorated with statues of St. Ulrich, St. Andrew and St. Stephen; the bell dates from 1619. The church can be reached via the Grieskirchen–St. Agatha route. After getting off in Schappenedt, a footpath of around 500 m leads to the church.

Tollet offers several designated options for active days. The Tollet hiking trail is a signposted hiking trail in Tollet. In addition, route 105, the Trattnachtal Trail–Aschachtal Trail connection, is designated as a walking and cycling path. There are further walking and cycling paths along the Trattnach; upstream, they offer impressions of the flora and fauna of this area. When choosing your holiday apartment, you can therefore weigh up a more culture- and history-focused itinerary against days spent exercising outdoors, without having to separate the two interests.

Which Accommodation Suits Your Travel Plans

A holiday apartment in Tollet is suitable as a base for a trip on which you want to combine different themes. If you focus on the castle and exhibitions, the architectural history of Tollet Castle, the Kulturama and the history of the Jörger family take centre stage. If you are interested in unusual historical structures, the earth houses in Unterstetten and the Earth House Centre offer a distinctive focus. For an excursion featuring sacred art, St. Ulrich’s Church, its high altar and the bell from 1619 are further options.

Your journey can also be planned around specific destinations: Tollet Castle can be reached from the Tolleterau stop via a short footpath of around 300 m. After getting off in Schappenedt, a footpath of around 500 m leads to St. Ulrich’s Church. Take these two details into account when putting together your excursions and choose accommodation based on which experiences are of particular interest to you during your stay.

Other Places for Orientation

For further location options, you can also consider Pram, Hofkirchen An Der Trattnach, Kematen Am Innbach, Michaelnbach, Geboltskirchen, Rottenbach, Pötting and Natternbach. Tollet itself remains particularly interesting if castle history, earth houses, the church and paths through the Trattnach Valley all suit your holiday.

For the higher-level travel overview: Grieskirchen.