Dürnstein is a historic town on the Danube, in the UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley. The picturesque location, the wealth of monuments and the castle walls towering over the buildings make it one of the most visited places in the region.
The history of the city is closely related to the Dürnstein Castle standing on a rock above the Danube. It was built in the 11th century, and in the 12th century, the emperors Leopold V imprisoned Richard the Lionheart who was captured during the Crusade. To this day, only picturesque ruins remain, which are a must-see when visiting Dürnstein and its main attraction.
Below the castle, on the banks of the Danube, lies the historic city center. Its panorama is dominated by the blue tower of the Baroque Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Until the dissolution of orders at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, it was the seat of the Augustinian monastery, the buildings of which can be seen nearby. Snuggled up to the mountain slopes falling straight into the Danube, the town looks very picturesque. Some houses are integrated into the remains of the city walls, others form a tangle of narrow streets in the center. Visiting Dürnstein is like plunging into history and being temporarily cut off from the modern world.
