Dürnstein Castle

I took a day trip out of Vienna to dürensteinand and I loved the castle. It's about 20-30 minutes walking to the top of the castle and it's definitely must-do. The view was outstanding, we sitted there for an hour because we didn't want to leave this magical place. Here some pictures

Amazing place, full of history - from the 12th century, and famous for having captive Richard the Lionheart - he was captured on his way back to England from the Holy Crusades. View of the Wachau Valley and Danube River. Wear good shoes as path is steep and rocky. Not for prams or wheelchairs. Full of tourists during the Spring (especially when it is apricot bloom season) and also summer.

We visited there whilst on a Scenic River cruise. It is a solid walk up the hill from the village. Steps are uneven and in some parts no steps at all. Wear good footwear. Once on top. The Veiws are sensational and the walk is well and truly worth it. Look at the cell where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned for some time during the crusades.

The village is pretty, the castle is a bit steep climb. Didn't go all the way as we were there on a hot day with a kid. But went close enough to take a few pictures

I love me some history. Great views. After a hike up the hill you're rewarded with panoramic views. A must do in my opinion

Although reaching the site takes some time and effort, it is well worth visiting to experience the breath of history. This is where King Richard the Lionheart once stayed. Along the path to the castle, informative installations offer insights into medieval politics and events, with a particular focus on the legendary imprisonment of Richard the Lionheart. Moreover, from the summit, there is an extraordinarily scenic view over the Danube and the charming town of Dürnstein.

What a fabulous hidden gem. We only learned of this place through a chance encounter with a local in a Vienna bar. The castle well worth a visit for the scenic views and accessible ruins. By 'accessible' I mean it's possible to climb on the walls; there are no safety barriers and access is unrestricted, the steps up the hill require some fitness, but the reward is a beautiful view of the Danube and area.

A very atmospheric place! There are several paths leading up to the ruins, which is quite convenient. The view of the Danube is simply wow. Bright green lizards crawl everywhere — so beautiful, it’s like they’re there just for the photos! It feels like stepping into a fairytale from the Middle Ages. I highly recommend it for a walk and unforgettable impressions. 🦎

4.7 stars for Dürnstein Castle. We came to Dürnstein Castle as part of our river cruise tour along the Danube. The hike up to the castle ruins only takes about 20-40 minutes depending on how athletic you are (or let's be real- how often you stop for scenic photos). I am not very athletic, but I found this hike to be quite leisurely. Honestly, the ruins of the castle are not the highlight of Dürnstein in my opinion. Rather, it is the breathtaking views of the surrounding scenic vineyards, Danube river and small towns from the higher altitude that make this castle hike so spectacular and worthwhile. The small town is also fun to explore, as it is a cute and quaint village worthy of photographing. They also sell little souvenirs/postcards and apricot products (such as apricot chocolate or apricot wine) since they are known for their apricots. I would highly recommend hiking up to the castle if you are physically able! And Dürnstein itself is such a peaceful and endearing small town!

Dürnstein Castle was a really fun excursion for us. It's located above the town of Dürnstein on the Danube river. I saw some river cruise boats docked close to here but we were actually bussed in from a dock that was further away. You really need to wear your walking shoes if you want to visit the castle because the only way to get to it is to hike. You start off by going up an uphill paved street past what looked like a residential area. After a while you'll transition a steeper uphill dirt road. Eventually you'll also have to traverse some somewhat sketchy stone steps. If you have mobility issues this might not be the excursion for you. It was more challenging than I expected to get to the castle but I enjoyed the views on the way. The ruined castle is where King Richard I of England was imprisoned, which was fascinating to hear about. The views from the castle ruins were quite stunning. You not only get wonderful views of the town below, but of the Danube as well. You'll want to make sure you bring coins with you on this trip because the only public restroom I could find in town required specific coins to get in with no method of making change. Don't even get me started on that.

Set high up (rather higher than it looks when you start climbing !) is the impressive Duernstein Castle - once home to Richard the Lionheart. You start walking between some vineyards with a view of the beautiful village of Duernstein, and then climb, and climb ... At the top, the castle is pretty much ruined and not that impressive, but the views over the Wachau are definitely worth it !