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Aggstein Castle

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description Aggstein Castle Overview

Aggstein Castle is a medieval ruined fortress on a rocky outcrop approximately 300 meters above the Danube River in the Wachau Valley of Lower Austria. First documented in the 12th century, the castle became notorious as the stronghold of the Kuenring family, who used its strategic position to extract tolls from Danube river traffic during the medieval period. The castle was besieged and partially destroyed multiple times throughout its history. Today the ruins are open to the public and maintained by a preservation society.

help Aggstein Castle FAQ

Where is Aggstein Castle located?

Aggstein Castle stands on a rocky outcrop about 300 meters above the right bank of the Danube in Austria's Wachau Valley. The ruin is roughly 150 meters long. [Official castle history](https://www.ruineaggstein.at/en/castle-ruin/the-ruin)

How old is Aggstein Castle?

The castle was built at the beginning of the 12th century, although the surviving structure is largely a ruin. Its history includes repeated sieges and destruction during the period of the Kuenrings. [Official castle history](https://www.ruineaggstein.at/en/castle-ruin/the-ruin)

What connection did the Kuenring family have with Aggstein Castle?

The Kuenrings were a powerful ministerial family that owned castles in the Wachau during the 12th and 13th centuries. Leutold II was the last Kuenring to own Aggstein, from 1348 to 1355. [Official castle history](https://www.ruineaggstein.at/en/castle-ruin/the-ruin)

What is the Rosengärtlein at Aggstein Castle?

The Rosengärtlein, or Rose Garden, is the castle's famously escape-proof prison area. Aggstein also contains a chapel that is still used for weddings and christenings. [Official castle history](https://www.ruineaggstein.at/en/castle-ruin/the-ruin)

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