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     In Styria, we, ... inhabit a castle, or schloss...
     Nothing can be more picturesque or solitary. It stands on a slight eminence in a forest. The road, very old and narrow, passes in front of its drawbridge, never raised in my time, and its moat, stocked with perch, and sailed over by many swans, and floating on its surface white fleets of water-lilies.
     Over all this the schloss shows its many-windowed front, its towers, and its Gothic chapel.

Fax to David Reed
May 20, 1996
Reference: Project Graz

Dear David,

I just returned from "Carmilla's Castle". It is about 45 minutes driving southeast from Graz. I can tell you it was strange. The castle is situated just on the road, a few meters off it.

When I approached I saw an old shabby building. I first thought that no one lives there anymore. The garden entrance is closed with a chain, everything is rusty and a little bit destroyed. From another side it was possible to enter, although there was a sign not to enter and to beware of dogs. On both sides of the little driveway you find statues of two saints. The door on the building is also rusty and closed. I rang the bell with an old rusty bell-cord. With this movement the dogs inside started to bark like crazy. Also, the peacocks started yelling. Through a small hole with a grill on it I could see the dogs' teeth. They didn't stop their barking but no one came or answered. On a heraldic sign I saw some lines written in orientalistic, Arabic letters--strange. Anyway, I took a walk around the building with its empty moat. Once it was the largest water castle in Styria. Everything was quiet except the dogs. Everywhere high grass and spring flowers. I took my photos and left. Later I spoke to a neighbor and after that to an old nun at a monastery nearby. They told me that the owner is an old lady in her nineties. She is a countess of English or Scottish origin and she doesn't want to have any visitors to her castle. She also doesn't have any contact with the people living here in the village. I returned again and rang the bell again hoping that someone would come. The dogs barked again but no one opened or answered. In some windows I saw some heads--sculptures made of marble or plaster on pediments. I left again for home. In the next days I will try to make contact by phone with the old lady. Maybe someone knows her personally and could make a visit possible. When you come to Graz we will try to visit if you want to see the castle.

Le Fanu never was there. He knew the castle from a book written by a Scottish sea captain who came to this place in the last century. The countess was from Scotland originally and she was in the last days of her life. So she didn't want to go without someone from Scotland being at her side. The sea captain was invited and came. He traveled around and saw also the other castles in the area. He gave a report of his travels. This book appeared in English and French in London. Le Fanu must have read that book. He located his Carmilla in this place in Styria. Some topographic facts are from other castles. The combination became the castle in the story, and the described landscape can be identified as this special place to the south of Graz.

I will send to you the slides by express mail. If they are not perfect I can make new ones.

All the best, Günther

Fax to David Reed May 22 Reference: Castle

Dear David,

Bingo! I now have a contact to the countess. The mayor has a very good connection to her. He thinks that it wouldn't be a large problem to come into the castle. So if you want I can visit her before or we go together, or shall I stop this now?

Best wishes, Günther

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