The castle presumably developed from a wooden structure in the 11/12^th century. It was already mentioned under the name Vest Egaw in written sources from 1425, when it was owned by the Windnows. Until the end of the World War II, the castle’s history was closely associated with two other Austrian noble families: from 1433 the Perneggi and then from 1543, the Trauttmansdorffs. In 1487 the castle was captured by Hungarian troops under the command of King Mathius Corvinus, who then occupied it for the next half-decade. In 1605 the Turks unsuccessfully besieged the castle. In the 17th century, a new palace was built in Italien style for representative purposes by Count Maximillian of Trauttmansdorff. Despite the expenditure, the Trauttmannsdorff family did not actually reside in the castle, except for short periods sometimes during the summer. After World War II, the castle was plundered. Its rooms were subsequently used for public housing, but because of inadequate hygienic standards, this use was abandoned in 1993. The new castle and the walled outbuilding were renovated in 2006, and the old castle complex is scheduled for renovation in 2026. In 2012 it was opened to the public. Since then, cultural tourism has developed significantly. The castle has a fully preserved defensive infrastructure and is also an excellent example of the development of palace architecture in the early modern period. The castle complex consists of the old castle, the new palace, and an outer bailey with a wall and  inner courtyard. What results is an amalgem of architectural styles, from Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance to Baroque. Remnants of Baroque Protestant frescos are preserved in the castle chapel.