High above the Mölltal road in Obervellach, Falkenstein castle, which used to protect Oberfalkenstein castle lying still higher above, enjoys a picturesque setting on a rocky ridge. The castle was first mentioned in 1146 but it must go back much further and is one of the oldest castles in Carinthia. Just like in days of old, it changed hands many times in its recent history so that the long list of owners includes the counts of Gorizia and the Habsburgs in the reigns of Emperor Friedrich III and his successor Maximilian I. The castle was completely restored at the turn of the 20th century. After an arson attack destroyed part of the building in 1968, the tower was reconstructed in its original Romanesque style. Today, the castle is privately owned, but can be visited.
