Leslie Massey
Austria is a country famed for its castles, ruins, forts and palaces. The highest density of castles can be found in Lower Austria and along the South-Eastern border areas. The country's castles are known worldwide, and each has an interesting story to tell.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of castles | No exact number given, but there are "several important castles in Salzburg" alone |
| Types of castles | Ruins, refurbished, cosy countryside chateaux, enormous fortresses, some open to the public, some privately owned |
| Locations | Lower Austria, South-Eastern border areas, Salzburg |
| Notable castles | Schloss Schonbrunn Castle, Hochosterwitz Castle, Riegersburg Castle, Burg Kreuzenstein, Hofburg Castle, Festung Hohensalzburg, Burg Mauterndorf |
What You'll Learn
- Austria is full of castles, from ruins to fortresses
- The highest density of castles can be found in Lower Austria and along the South-Eastern border areas
- Some castles are open to the public, while others are still owned by the families that built them
- Salzburg is home to several important castles, including Festung Hohensalzburg, the country's biggest castle
- Schloss Schonbrunn Castle is a popular tourist attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Austria is full of castles, from ruins to fortresses
There are several important castles in Salzburg, including the fortress of Salzburg City, Festung Hohensalzburg, which is Austria's biggest castle. The fortress of Hohenwerfen is much smaller but situated in a beautiful valley. Burg Mauterndorf is a typical medieval castle. Schloss Schonbrunn Castle is another of the best castles to visit in Austria. It was originally constructed as a hunting lodge for the heir to the throne, Joseph I. During World War I, it was the Austrian Imperial Family's summer residence. It is surrounded by a beautiful park and is a popular tourist attraction.
Other magnificent castles in Austria include Hochosterwitz Castle, Riegersburg Castle, Burg Kreuzenstein, and Hofburg Castle. Most of the castles in Austria stand out and are nestled amidst the green forest. They are generally made of light-coloured stone and can be seen from miles away.
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The highest density of castles can be found in Lower Austria and along the South-Eastern border areas
Austria is full of castles, from ruins to refurbished fortresses, countryside chateaux to enormous fortresses. Some are open to the public, while others are still owned by the families that built them. The highest density of castles can be found in Lower Austria and along the South-Eastern border areas. This is because most people lived in these areas, and they secured the most violent areas during the Middle Ages, when almost all invaders came from Eastern Europe. The landscape also leaves towns rather exposed.
Lower Austria is home to several important castles, including the fortress of Salzburg City, Festung Hohensalzburg, which is Austria's biggest castle. The fortress of Hohenwerfen is much smaller but is situated in a beautiful valley. Burg Mauterndorf is a typical medieval castle. There are also many palaces in and around Salzburg.
Along the South-Eastern border, you can find castles such as Schloss Schonbrunn, which was originally constructed as a hunting lodge for the heir to the throne, Joseph I. During World War I, it became the Austrian Imperial Family's summer residence. The castle is surrounded by a beautiful park and is a popular tourist attraction. It has been a UNESCO heritage site since 1996.
Other notable castles in Austria include Hochosterwitz Castle, Riegersburg Castle, Burg Kreuzenstein, and Hofburg Castle.
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Some castles are open to the public, while others are still owned by the families that built them
Austria is full of castles. Some are ruins, others are refurbished, some are cosy countryside chateaux, and others are enormous fortresses. Some are open to the public, while others are still owned by the families that built them. There is no overall pattern in the Austrian castles: the highest density of them can be found in Lower Austria and along the South-Eastern border areas. This is because it is where most people lived, it secured the most violent areas (during the Middle Ages, almost all invaders came from today's Eastern Europe), and the landscape leaves towns rather exposed.
Some of the best castles in Austria are open to the public, including Schloss Schonbrunn Castle, which was constructed as a hunting lodge for the heir to the throne, Joseph I. Beginning. During World War I, the castle was the Austrian Imperial Family's summer residence. It is now a popular tourist attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hochosterwitz Castle, Riegersburg Castle, Burg Kreuzenstein, and Hofburg Castle are also open to the public.
The fortress of Salzburg City, Festung Hohensalzburg, is Austria's biggest castle. The fortress of Hohenwerfen is much smaller but is situated in a beautiful valley. Burg Mauterndorf is a typical medieval castle. There are also many palaces in and around Salzburg.
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Salzburg is home to several important castles, including Festung Hohensalzburg, the country's biggest castle
Austria is full of castles, from ruins to refurbished fortresses, countryside chateaux to enormous strongholds. The highest density of castles can be found in Lower Austria and along the South-Eastern border areas. This is due to the fact that most people lived in these areas, and they secured the most violent areas during the Middle Ages.
Other notable castles in Austria include Hochosterwitz Castle, Riegersburg Castle, Burg Kreuzenstein, Hofburg Castle, and Schloss Schonbrunn Castle. Schloss Schonbrunn Castle was originally constructed as a hunting lodge for the heir to the throne, Joseph I. During World War I, it became the Austrian Imperial Family's summer residence and is now a popular tourist attraction.
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Schloss Schonbrunn Castle is a popular tourist attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Austria is full of castles, from ruins to fortresses, and cosy countryside chateaux to enormous palaces. One of the most popular is Schloss Schönbrunn Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.
Schloss Schönbrunn Castle is a beautiful Rococo-style palace with 1,440 rooms. It was originally built as a hunting lodge for the heir to the throne, Joseph I. Begining, and was the Austrian Imperial Family's summer residence during World War I. The palace is surrounded by a park and is located in Hietzing, the 13th district of Vienna.
The history of the palace and its gardens spans over 300 years, reflecting the changing tastes, interests, and aspirations of successive Habsburg monarchs. The palace was first designed by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach in 1690 as a rival to France's Palace of Versailles. However, a second, less ornate plan from 1695-96 was adopted, and the palace was finished by 1711. It was modified in 1737 and again in 1744 by Nikolaus Pacassi.
Today, Schloss Schönbrunn Castle is one of Vienna's major tourist attractions, drawing millions of visitors each year. The grounds cover 160 hectares and visitors can ride on the diesel-powered Schönbrunn Panorama Train to see all of its attractions. The palace is also home to a theatre, which has been added to the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
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Frequently asked questions
It is unclear exactly how many castles there are in Austria, but there are certainly several.
Yes, there are several famous castles in Austria, including Schloss Schonbrunn Castle, which was once the summer residence of the Austrian Imperial Family, and Festung Hohensalzburg, which is Austria's biggest castle.
Yes, there are many notable castles in Austria, including Hochosterwitz Castle, Riegersburg Castle, Burg Kreuzenstein, and Hofburg Castle.
Austrian castles vary greatly. Some are ruins, while others have been refurbished. Some are cosy countryside chateaux, while others are enormous fortresses. Some are open to the public, while others are privately owned.
The highest density of castles in Austria can be found in Lower Austria and along the South-Eastern border areas. This is because most people lived in these areas during the Middle Ages, and because the landscape left towns rather exposed to invaders from Eastern Europe.
