Dürnstein Old Town is a Gothic-to-Baroque streetscape in the Wachau UNESCO World Heritage valley, anchored by the blue-towered 18th-century Augustinian Abbey and overlooked by the ruins of the castle where Richard the Lionheart was held captive in 1192-1193 (the English ransom, 150,000 marks of silver, funded Wiener Neustadt’s founding). Free to walk; the castle ruin is accessible by a 20-30 minute uphill hike. Arrive by Danube boat from Melk (DDSG/Brandner) or by Wachaubahn train from Krems. Crowds peak at midday in summer; early morning or late afternoon gives the town back to itself.
historic district in Duernstein
Duernstein Old Town
Dürnstein's old town is one of the most coherent medieval-to-Baroque streetscapes in the Wachau, compressed into a few hundred meters along the Danube bank between the river and the cliff.
- Type
- historic district
- Destination
- Duernstein
- Cost
- Free to visit
- Address
- 3601 Duernstein
- Coordinates
- 48.3954, 15.5203