- Type
- Ruin
- Built
- 1429 · 15th century
- Site origins
- 1181 per Wikidata – an earlier stronghold or first mention
- Location
- Lower Austria, Austria
- Visiting
- probably – Wikidata lists it as a museum or gives tickets, opening hours or visitor numbers; check before you go
- Coordinates
- 48.3139°, 15.4217°
History
The castle was probably built in the early 12th century by Manegold of Aggsbach, and in 1181 it passed to the Kuenring family. For their part in revolts against the Austrian dukes it was besieged and taken in 1231 and 1296, and after that branch of the Kuenrings died out it fell into decay. In 1429 Duke Albert V granted it to his chamberlain Jörg Scheck vom Wald on condition that he rebuild it to protect river traffic; most of the walls seen today date from the work carried out until 1436. Scheck soon took to plundering ships and levying tolls, until he was defeated by Georg von Stain in 1463. The Turks burned the castle in 1529, and from the 17th century it slowly decayed.
What to see
The ruin occupies a narrow rocky ridge high above the Danube, and visitors pass through a sequence of gates and courtyards, the knights' hall, the Gothic chapel and the old kitchen. Tall walls of the palace and the Ladies' Tower survive. The terraces offer one of the finest views over the Wachau valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The ruin houses exhibitions and hosts medieval events.
Wikipedia article Official website Wikidata Q698689
Popularity: articles about this site in 17 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).