Dürnstein Castle
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An excellent walk / hike that takes less than an hour. Superb views from the top. Steeped in history. Well worth a visit “The castle is known for being one of the places where King Richard I of England, returning from the Third Crusade, was imprisoned after being captured near Vienna by Duke Leopold V of Austria, from December 1192 until his extradition to Emperor Henry VI in March 1193. In 1428 and 1432, Hussite forces plundered the city and castle of Dürnstein. In 1645, near the end of the Thirty Years' War, a Swedish contingent under Lennart Torstensson conquered Dürnstein. Upon their withdrawal, the troops destroyed parts of the gate system. As of 1662, the castle was no longer inhabited permanently, but was still listed as a possible shelter in the Austro-Turkish War (1663–1664). In 1663, Conrad Balthasar of Starhemberg purchased the castle, which is still owned by his heirs to this date. From 1679 on, however, the castle was no longer habitable and was abandoned. Today, the fortress is part of the "Wachau Cultural Landscape" UNESCO World Heritage Site.”
Shane Dunne
10
Was one of the best things we did on vacation. What you need to know. Bring a towel and you have to have flip flops or some sort of footwear. They do sell both there but if you don’t have, you’d be a lot better off stopping at a LIDL and grabbing some for €3 instead of €15-30 each. If you want to be able to swim in the indoor baths you’ll need a swim cap too. It’s supposed to be over 14’s only but this is because of the minerals, so do your research and if you are ok with it they won’t have a problem with you brining kids a bit younger in at your discretion (and at adult price). There are different rates on weekends and holidays. We went on the day before the national holiday and it wasn’t that busy but we were there just after opening. Lots of chairs available then. The food and drink options are pretty good and reasonable. My favourite might have been the wine spa 😬
Aoife Dowling
00
Lovely castle ruin with a rich history that is a short climb away from the Duernstein town center. The ruin of the castle where King Richard the Lionhearted was imprisoned by the Austrian King following the first crusade. Apparently they were best buds while killing people in the Holy Land, but their bromance burned out (sad!). Richard was forbidden to pass through Austrian lands which just so happened to be right in the way of him getting back home. As the story goes, good King Ricky and his entourage tried to sneak through dressed as monks. Someone put two and two together when said monks started dropping kingly sums on their dinners that just didn't add up, alerted the authorities, and next thing you know Ricky's Mum is paying a ransom of one year's tax collection income to bail him out.
Erik Wohlmuth
10
**Dürnstein** is a picturesque town located in the **Wachau Valley**, Austria, known for its stunning landscapes and historical significance. Nestled along the banks of the **Danube River**, Dürnstein is famous for its charming medieval architecture, including the iconic **Dürnstein Castle**, where King Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in the 12th century. The town features narrow cobblestone streets lined with colorful buildings, shops, and wine taverns, inviting visitors to explore. Dürnstein is also renowned for its local vineyards, producing exquisite white wines, particularly Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. The beautiful scenery, with terraced vineyards and the river, makes it a popular destination for tourists seeking both history and natural beauty.
Mike De Castro
00
These are the ruins of a XII century castle, where Richard The Lionheart was held as a prisoner. There are two routes to the castle. The harder one is a bit shortet and offers more picturesque views to the Danube and the valley. It is about 20 minutes walk, not that hard - mostly stone steps and you can enjoy the view while you are taking a break. The easier route is only slightly longer and there is information about the Crusades and the history of the castle. The ruins are free to explore and also offer great views of the area. It is a very pleasant walk that you should try.
Румяна Стоянова
30
Situated at the top of a mountain in Austria's beautiful wine country, this castle has some seriously gorgeous and breathtaking views. Wachau is a beautiful region, and Dürnstein is a beautiful town with a lot of history. After taking a stroll through the beautiful town, we headed up steep terrain to conquer the castle. It's definitely a long walk, and you may have to stop and catch your breath a couple of times along the way, but it's worth it. The castle is very old and has been destroyed, so it's basically just the ruins, but it's still really amazing to see.
Amita Sachdeva
60
Nearby Attractions Of Dürnstein Castle
Stift Dürnstein
Hotel Schloss Dürnstein
Vogelbergsteig
Domäne Wachau
Kremser Tor
Weingut Böhmer
Stift Dürnstein
4.6
(1.1K)
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Hotel Schloss Dürnstein
4.5
(298)
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Vogelbergsteig
4.8
(223)
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Domäne Wachau
4.7
(155)
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Nearby Restaurants Of Dürnstein Castle
Alter Klosterkeller
Dürnsteinerhof
Bäckerei Schmidl
"Zur Emma"
Küffer Keller
Restaurant Schloss Dürnstein
Gasthaus Kuenringer
Schnitzer's seit 1988
Restaurant Richard Löwenherz
Branigan Wines Wachau
Alter Klosterkeller
3.9
(513)
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Dürnsteinerhof
4.4
(285)
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Bäckerei Schmidl
4.4
(245)
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"Zur Emma"
4.4
(199)
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Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
3601 Dürnstein, Austria
Map
Phone
+43 2711 219
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Website
duernstein.at
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Reviews
Overview
4.7
(1.5K reviews)
Ratings & Description
cultural
outdoor
adventure
scenic
off the beaten path
Description
Dürnstein Castle is the ruin of a medieval rock castle in Austria. It is located in Dürnstein, in the Lower Austrian Wachau region on the Danube river, at 312 metres above sea level.
attractions: Stift Dürnstein, Hotel Schloss Dürnstein, Vogelbergsteig, Domäne Wachau, Kremser Tor, Weingut Böhmer, restaurants: Alter Klosterkeller, Dürnsteinerhof, Bäckerei Schmidl, "Zur Emma", Küffer Keller, Restaurant Schloss Dürnstein, Gasthaus Kuenringer, Schnitzer's seit 1988, Restaurant Richard Löwenherz, Branigan Wines Wachau
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