Dürnstein Castle Ruins (Styria)
Dürnstein Castle Ruins (Styria)
Dürnstein Castle is the ruins of a high medieval spur castle near Dürnstein in Styria in the Murau district of Styria (Austria).
Location
Dürnstein was built on what was once Eppenstein land in a strategically advantageous position on the ever-changing border between Styria and Carinthia. A mountain ridge running southwest from the Alpl-Kogel narrows sharply at the border with Carinthia and drops steeply to the south, west and north, almost vertically to the Olsa valley, which narrows towards the north. Descending to a hundred metres above the valley floor, you reach the once important border fortress of Dürnstein, built on a rocky outcrop in a well-protected location.
Below the ruins ran the former ‘Italian main road’, where the imperial border toll between Styria and Carinthia was also established at this point.
History
The castle was first mentioned in a document in 1144 as castrum Dierenstein. It was the seat of the Dürnstein family, which died out in 1192. After the Dürnstein family died out, the castle came into the possession of the Wildon family, whose branch residing in Dürnstein named itself after the castle. The castle was subsequently acquired by the sovereigns in 1299 and remained in their possession until 1608. Around 1500, the castle was equipped with a water supply. The castle fell into disrepair at the end of the 16th century and was abandoned in 1610. In 1809, Austrian troops used the ruins as cover against the advancing French.
Wikipedia)
