kuenringer castle

This old castle, which imprisoned Richard the Lionheart must have been very imposing in its day. Now it is a very steep walk/climb up to the ruins. Richard was on his way home after the 3rd Crusade and was imprisoned here for a year until his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine paid the ransome. This sum of money was sufficiently large to make a very severe dent of Englands funds and to pay for the new Vienna walls.He should have travelled up through Spain instead!

Great views, and a spectacular position. Worth the hike up to savour the history and views. Durnsteins medieval remains are visible at many places through town.

This was a fun, rewarding hike although somewhat strenuous for older folks. Great views from the top.

The ruins of Kuenringer Castle date back to the late 1190's and gives you and idea of the workmanship that went into these buildings so long ago

This is the castle in which Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned - its in the small town of Durstein - in which we stopped off on our way from Vienna to Prague - a pretty (but busy) main street - had a decent glass of white wine in one of the many bars

If you feel like some exercise and want to learn a little history of the area, then a hike to Kuenringer Castle is perfect. On the way up the hill are stations that tell you about the castle and its history and each stop gives you a chance to catch your breath. The castle is in ruins, but fun to explore and climb on. Make sure to have your camera, as this has to be one of the best spots to view the Danube and its villages.

I've given this a five rating not so much for the castle ruins but for the absolutely spectacular views. Situated high above the village of Durnstein, the castle ruins are quite extensive but much like any other castle ruins. The pathway isn't that clearly marked and it's a steep and often rugged trek taking 20-30 minutes. If you're not fit then don't try to get to the top but you will still get some lovely views on the way.If you get to the top then the views, especially over the river and vineyards and villages, are spectacular. And it's impossible to take a bad photo but very easy to take a stunner. It's the highlight of the village which itself is fairly small and touristy as it caters for river cruises.

While not much remains of the castle (darned Swedes in 1645!), the ruins are interesting and they offer a beautiful vantage point from which to see the Danube and the vineyards surrounding the village.The community has done an EXCELLENT job of providing interpretive information on the capture of Richard the Lionhearted after the 3rd Crusade, and explains the politics of the situation in a clear, concise manner.In short, for FREE you get a nice, relatively easy hike up a hill, a great view at the top, and an easy-to-take history lesson to boot!Don't miss it!

Just take your time...and a bottle of water, and you'll be so glad you did it! The view is breathtaking and worth every step! The walk back down is a breeze!

Generally I wasn't a fan of the town of Durnstein. Whilst it is a quaint medieval town it is overrun with cruise boat tourists and consequently a lot of shops selling cheap tat.But a great escape is to do the climb up to the ruined castle. It is only 20 minutes but a steep climb over a rough path. It gives a good impression of what it must have been like in former times, the view is spectacular, and it provides a quiet relief from the tourist throng.

The romantic ruins of Kuenringer Castle dominate the skyline above the lovely small town of Durnstei. The castle is famous as the place where Richard I was imprisoned in the 12th century. The ruins can be reached by a strenuous walk from the town and the resulting view of the surrounding countryside and the Danube is probably worth the effort of making the climb.Durnstein itself is a pretty medieval town, with cobblestones, winding streets and a lovely baroque church. The town graveyard contains an ossuary, where the skeletal remains of the town's residents are stored.This pretty town is well worn visiting.

We had the option of hiking up to the castle ruins on a bike ride. Option, no way! Hike it- the view is amazing!

Liked the view and the old world feel. Very friendly staff, good food and service. Good area to sight see and some shopping. Bike friendly area and the Danube was neat to observe.

Rarely have I had such an affinity for an historical site. The very thought that this edifice, this castle, once served as a prison for Richard I, Lion Heart overwhelmed me. Richard was imprisoned by Austrian Duke Leopold V during the 3rd crusade. All this occurred around 1092, just 26 years after the Battle of Hastings. As we sailed down the spectacular Wachau Valley, where--it seems--the beauty never ceases, we saw the castle looming over the town of Durnstein. It hovered like a specter--ominous but powerfully beautiful. I guess that everyone who sees it is drawn to it; we certainly were.The town of Durnstein is almost tiny, and seems a perfectly preserved piece of Medieval life. It is one of those places where one might wish to stay for a bit, and savor the spirit of time gone by. The castle and the town aren't on most tours, and aren't as famous as other Austrian cities and attractions, but Durnstein is calm, historical, and certainly worth your time to visit.

The ruined castle looks down on Durnstein and sadly was destroyed I believe in the 16th. Century. To walk to up to takes about 15 - 20 minutes for the average walker. The views over the valley are breathtaking. Sad to see this truly historical monument in ruins but nevertheless the ruins are there. History records indicate that King Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned there and held for ransom on his return from the crusades. The walking track isn't to hard, Worth the effort.