Dürnstein or Kuenringerburg Castle

Kuenringerburg Castle

Location: Wachau, Lower Austria

Tel: (02711) 200

 

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Impressive ruins of castle Kuenringerburg Castle or Kuenringer burg are situated on a strategic hill overlooking Danube River. Kuenringerburg Castle is situated just 30 minutes of walking from Dürnstein this castle has long and fascinating history. Kuenringerburg Castle had one of the most colorful pages in its history. It was here that king Richard I the Lionheart was imprisoned for insulting Leopold V, Duke of Austria between 1192 and 1193. English king was returning from the Third Crusade in the Holy Land in disguise to avoid detection, but was captured by Leopold’s troops. Local legend claimed that king was held in Kuenringerburg Castle in secrecy. Richard's favorite troubadour (singer, entertainer) Blondel de Nesle went on a quest to find him. Traveling from castle to castle he was singing king's favorite song. Eventually he got to Kuenringerburg Castle where he started singing the same song. Upon finishing the first verse he heard someone's voice continue with a second verse. Blondel recognized the voice of his kind immediately. King Richard I eventually was freed only after paying a huge ransom of 35,000 kg of silver. Kuenringerburg Castle was destroyed in 1645 by Swedish troops during 30 Year Old War. Ever since the Kuenringerburg lies in ruins, which is probably one of the reasons why it still draws people here.

 

History

The rock castle was built by the Kuenringers in the middle of the 12th century. Azzo von Gobatsburg, progenitor of the Kuenringer family, acquired the area around the castle from the Tegernsee monastery. His grandson Hadmar I built the castle. The town of Dürnstein and the castle are connected by a defensive wall, an extended town wall. Above the chapel once lay the inner courtyard, containing a mighty boulder with a carved rock cellar. In 1158 a knightly family named Dürnstein appeared for the first time as fiefdoms of the Lords of Kuenring. It is the beginning of the rule of the Kuenringers and they begin with the construction of the Dürnstein fortress around 1100.

The castle is known because the English King Richard the Lionheart, who returned from the Third Crusade, was imprisoned in knightly custody in Dürnstein or a neighboring castle from December 1192 to March 1193 on the initiative of Duke Leopold V under Hadmar II and then handed over to the Germans Emperor Henry VI was delivered.

A castle chapel was first mentioned in 1306, dedicated to the evangelist John. In 1588 the castle was restored as a fortress by Streun von Schwarzenau.

In 1355 the rule of the Kuenringers in the Wachau ended with the extinction of the Dürnstein line. Duke Albrecht II acquired Dünstein from his heirs, which was mostly administered by the prince's guardians.

In 1476, Emperor Friedrich III. the city of Dürnstein a coat of arms. The coat of arms shows the town of Dürnstein, overlooked by the castle complex.

In 1573, Emperor Maximilian II entrusted Dürnstein to Reichard Streun von Schwarzenau, President of the Court Chamber. Dürnstein then passed to the Lords of Zelking (1622), to the Zinzendorfers (1634) and finally to the Counts - later Princes - of Starhemberg in 1663.

In 1588 the castle was restored as a fortress by Reichard Streun von Schwarzenau.

In 1645, the Swedes also conquered Dürnstein in the final phase of the Thirty Years' War under Lennart Torstensson. When they withdrew, the Swedes blew up the castle gates.

In 1662 the castle was no longer inhabited, but could have been repaired again. A year later, “Dürnstein Castle” appeared among the refuges in the Turkish danger. In 1679 the castle house was no longer habitable and was now left to fall into disrepair.

In 1882 the Starhembergwarte was built above Dürnstein. Prince Camillo Starhemberg had the access route built at his own expense. This path is now part of the Wachau World Heritage Trail.

Next to the castle ruins is the oldest climbing garden in the Wachau, the Dürnstein climbing garden.