It was built about 1000 AD as the ancestral seat of the Eppenstein dynasty, whose members served as Margraves of Styria and were enfeoffed with the Duchy of Carinthia in the 11th and 12th century.

The former spur castle is situated in the mountainous Upper Styria region, at a height of 736 metres (2,415 ft) aA.

When the Eppensteins became extinct upon the death of Duke Henry III of Carinthia in 1122, their allodial possessions were inherited by Margrave Ottokar II of Styria and his descendants.

After Ottokar was defeated by King Rudolf I of Germany and killed in the 1278 Battle on the Marchfeld, the fortress passed through many hands over the centuries.

Rebuilt in a Gothic style and conquered by the forces of King Matthias Corvinus during the Austrian–Hungarian War in 1482, it gradually lost importance and decayed.