The castle of Altenhof was mentioned for the first time in 1196, presumably constructed by a certain Wernher von Altinhoven, a ministerial of the Bishops of Passau. From 1485 to 1602 the castle belonged to the family Herleinsperger, and since 1602 it is in the possession of the counts of Salburg. At the beginning of the 17 th century the church was enlarged and is now supposedly the largest private church still in use in Austria . The castle of today stems from 1724 when it was reconstructed after a fire; it is located high over the Ranna valley, surrounded by a terraced park.

The castle and the nearby ruins of Falkenstein have certainly seen many things since their existence was first documented in the 11 th century, and still provide material for ballads, tales and legends and once in a while is the setting for one or the other unexplainable appearance or noise. There is the story of the falcon that escaped the knight of Falkenstein which eventually led to the foundation of the monastery of Schlägl. Or the story of the captured cavalier and his unselfish maid, or the horrid siege of the water tower of Falkenstein where treason led the people to thirst to death, and last but not least, the almost timeless story of the feudal lord who rather listened to the rumours in the village then trusting his wife. The outcome of this fatal mistake, you can guess.