Aggstein Castle

High on a rocky spur some 300 metres above the Danube stands the ruin of Aggstein, one of the most striking castle ruins in the Wachau. This 12th-century hilltop castle was the seat of the Kuenring family, said in legend to have plundered ships on the Danube as robber barons.

Notorious is the "Rosengärtlein", a narrow ledge where prisoners were reputedly left to their fate. Today the climb rewards you with history and a magnificent panorama over the Danube valley – a popular excursion with a castle tavern.

Aggstein Castle stands on a rocky outcrop above the Danube in the Wachau valley. Built in the 12th century, it rises about 300 metres above the river. The ruins stretch 150 metres along the ridge with steep rock faces at both ends. It belongs to the municipality of Schönbühel-Aggsbach in Lower Austria’s Melk District. The castle once controlled shipping on the Danube and collected tolls from passing boats.

The castle’s history is marked by sieges, robber barons and shifting loyalties. Hadmar III of the Kuenring family held it until his capture in a clever ruse by Duke Frederick II. Later, Jörg Scheck von Wald turned the castle into a base for raids, earning the nickname ‘Schreckenwald’. After rebuilding and further sieges, it fell into neglect until recent restoration work stabilised the ruins.

Visitors walk among remnants of the women’s tower, palace and Gothic chapel from the 15th-century rebuild. The rose garden planted by Scheck von Wald survives as a terrace with views over the Danube. A restored banquet hall now hosts events, and safety repairs have opened up the site. The castle’s legends linger in the landscape, adding to its appeal as one of Lower Austria’s most visited ruins.