| Rabenstein Castle | |
| Location: | Carinthia, Austria |
| Type: | Rock castle (Felsenburg) |
| Built: | 1100 |
| Builder: | Engelbert I von Sponheim |
| Height: | 691 meters |
| Used: | 1100 – 19th century |
| Condition: | Ruin |
| Ownership: | Private |
Rabenstein Castle[1] (German: Burgruine Rabenstein) is a ruined rock castle in Carinthia, Austria. Rabenstein Castle is 691m (2,267feet) above sea level.[2] Rabenstein Castle was built around 1100 to protect nearby Sankt Paul im Lavanttal.
Rabenstein Castle began as a mere watchtower built on a tall hill. Rabenstein became a castle when Engelbert I Sponheim, Margrave of Istria founded St. Paul's Abbey in 1091 in order to protect the abbey and town around it.
The castle was occupied by the Rabensteins (whose name henceforth stuck to the structure) until 1200, the Archbishop of Salzburg until 1300,