Burg Losenstein

Losenstein Castle stands on a sixty-metre dolomite rock above the village of Losenstein in Upper Austria. Built in the twelfth century by the Styrian Ottokars, it was one of the first stone castles in the region. The Lords of Losenstein took its name after 1252, when Dietmar of Steyr received the fortress from Ottokar II of Bohemia. The family held the castle until 1692, when it passed to the Auersperg family and later to the province. The ruins remain among the largest and oldest in Upper Austria. The castle’s exterior walls still rise clearly above the village. Gothic windows and large arches mark the original layout, while the church, living quarters, courtyard and service areas are still recognisable. From the top, visitors look down on Losenstein, the river Enns and the foothills toward Styria. Signs explain the history of each part of the ruin. The site has also hosted plays and school tours for many years. Visitors walk over uneven ground between the remaining walls and towers. The rock offers a small flat area suitable for performances or climbing routes. The castle theatre group uses the space for open-air productions in summer. The preservation work ensures that both the medieval structure and modern activities can continue safely. The ruin stands as a quiet reminder of centuries of power and change in the valley.