The concept of
Ansitz dates back to the end of the
Middle Ages up to the 19th century. Unlike castles, they were hardly fortified. They arose when medieval fortifications had lost their military purpose. Residences were designed mainly for the comfortable and prestigious living of their owners. An
Ansitz was often extremely ornate in design and furnished to denote the status of its owner. The application of the word
Ansitz to refer to a noble residence is hardly used today outside
South Tyrol,
Bavaria, and
Austria. As of 2008, there are 200
Ansitze remaining in Austria. == References ==