Aggstein Castle - Wachau Cultural Landscape
Aggsbach, Austria
29.07.2017
The Burgruine Aggstein is a medieval castle located on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube River in the village of Aggsbach in Austria. It is considered one of the most impressive and well-preserved castle ruins in Austria, and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 as part of the "Wachau Cultural Landscape".
The history of the castle dates back to the 12th century when it was built by the Kuenringer family, one of the most powerful noble families in Austria. The castle was strategically positioned to control the Danube River and served as a toll station for the passing ships. Over the centuries, the castle changed hands numerous times and underwent several renovations and expansions.
One of the most famous owners of the castle was the infamous robber knight, Georg von Stain, who used the castle as his base for plundering passing ships on the Danube. The castle eventually fell into ruins after von Stain's death in the 15th century.
Today, visitors can explore the ruins of the castle and get a glimpse into its rich history. The castle features a fortified gate, a keep, a chapel, and remains of several residential buildings. The breathtaking views of the Danube Valley from the castle are also not to be missed.
Aside from its historical significance, Burgruine Aggstein is also known for its legends and myths. One of the most famous stories is that of the "White Lady", a ghost who is said to haunt the castle. According to legend, she is the daughter of Georg von Stain who was locked up in the castle's dungeon and starved to death by her father.
Visitors can reach the castle by hiking up a steep trail or taking a ferry across the Danube. The castle is open to the public from April to October and offers guided tours in multiple languages.
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The Wachau is a stretch of the Danube Valley between Melk and Krems, a landscape of high visual quality. It preserves in an intact and visible form many traces - in terms of architecture, (monasteries, castles, ruins), urban design, (towns and villages), and agricultural use, principally for the cultivation of vines - of its evolution since prehistoric times.
The Wachau (German pronunciation: [vaˈxaʊ̯] ) is an Austrian valley with a picturesque landscape formed by the Danube river. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations of Lower Austria, located midway between the towns of Melk and Krems that also attracts "connoisseurs and epicureans" for its high-quality wines. It is 36 kilometres (22 mi) in length and was already settled in prehistoric times. A well-known place and tourist attraction is Dürnstein, where King Richard I of England was held captive by Leopold V, Duke of Austria. The architectural elegance of its ancient monasteries (Melk Abbey and Göttweig Abbey), castles and ruins combined with the urban architecture of its towns and villages, and the cultivation of vines as an important agricultural produce are the dominant features of the valley.
The Wachau was inscribed as "Wachau Cultural Landscape" in the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites in recognition of its architectural and agricultural history, in December 2000.
