At the beginning of the 12th century his descandent Diepold III, Margrave of Vohburg, gave the lands to Hugo von Liechtenstein (d. 1156) who had come to Austria in his knightly entourage.

[1] Hugo built Liechtenstein Castle about 45 km to the west on a fief that he received from the Babenberg margraves of Austria and named himself after it.

After the death of the last Johann Stadeck in 1399, Duke Wilhelm wanted to give it to his brother Ernst dem Eisernen, but heiress Guta married Hermann II, Count of Celje and received it from King Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia as a gift.

The Harrach family first appeared in southern Bohemia in the 13th century, later in neighbouring Mühlviertel, including the wealthy town of Freistadt.

In April 2006, thieves broke in and stole 16 paintings by Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Rubens and Peter Snayers.