The village of St. Martin Im Innkreis still has a small population today with about 1700 inhabitants and an area of about 8.9 square kilometers (890 hectares or in U.S. measurements: 3.4 square miles or 2200 acres). By contrast, the Piber Federal Stud contains about 1500 hectares or about 1.7 times more area. Most of the area around St. Martin is agricultural land and forests. St. Martin was first mentioned in 1084 as a fief of the archdiocese of Passau. In 1166, the village came under the lordship of the Lords of Schwent. In 1821, St. Martin came under the rule of the Counts Arco-Valley, a noble family known since the Middle Ages. It was the Countess Gabrielle Arco-Valley who welcomed Podhajsky and the Spanish Riding School to the castle. Her husband, Count Anton Arco-Valley was imprisoned in a German concentration camp for political opponents of the Nazis. Count Anton Arco-Valley survived the concentration camp but was killed in a traffic accident during the summer of 1945. Ironically, General Patton suffered a similar fate!

Schloß St. Martin is in the baroque style and was originally built in 1630 by Johann-Adolf von Tattenbach Rheinstein. It was rebuilt in 1723 after a fire. Schloß St. Martin is much smaller and less lavish than the Hermes Villa which was used in the Disney movie. Unfortunately, Schloß St. Martin wasn't open to the public when we were there so we had to satisfy our curiosity from outside the grounds. The grounds extended for perhaps 150 meters/yards along the highway. A 10 foot high wall with a large gatehouse and entry faced onto the highway. Flower boxes hung from every window of the gate house.  

The gate posts were topped by bronze statues of deer, a stag on the right and a doe on the left. [Insert left and right photos of gates]  

Through the entry, you can see the castle. 

Turning down the side street, you can see the beautiful castle park which is surrounded by castle buildings including the former carriage house and what seems to be newer living quarters for the owners. 

Castle Park

Castle Carriage House

The side street also has the service entry to the stable area which today houses the St. Martin Riding club. Adjacent to the club entry is the aptly named Reiter Schenke (Riders' Tavern) where riders can quench their post-ride thirsts. There is also an outdoor riding arena which could have served as the training ground and performance area when the Spanish Riding School performed for Patton.

St. Martin Riding Club

Riders' Tavern

The rear gate house of the castle is now a pension or what we Americans call a bed and breakfast hotel.  

We returned home happy to have seen this place that was so historic for the Spanish Riding School and most of the world's Lipizzaner. That we found it still intact and still has horses stabled on the grounds made for a very pleasant day.