Burgruine Duernstein
Burgruine Duernstein
4.5
About
Castle Kuernriger (Schloß Kürnriger) is the main attraction of Durnstein (Dürnstein). It is the ruins of the castle in which Richard Leoncoeur, King of England was held prisoner for a year while returning from a Crusade. The ransom was used by the Duke of Babenberg to build the city walls of Vienna. This is a popular historical attraction especially for British people.
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4.5
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Zimminaroundtheworld
Okinawa Prefecture, Japan1,911 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2019
Like many others, I came to Durnstein while on a River Cruise down the Danube. Durnstein was our first stop, to be honest one of my favorite stops. Once I walked to the city, the first thing I did was hike up to the ruins. I am not sure if there was an alternate way to climb up here, but it was not the easiest hike, it was not bad though. The hike is short, and can get rocky/steep. Once you actually get to the ruins, the views are incredible and the feeling of being on a ruin overlooking the Danube is just as exciting! I came up early, and it was not crowded, I practically had the ruins to myself for a little bit. I love exploring castles and ruins, and the Durnstein Ruins were fantastic!
Written 16 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Steve K
15 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019 • Friends
This was a one day stop on our Tauck river cruise. It is a quaint little medieval town, and charming to visit. It is a single day stop and you have pretty much seen everything!
The main attraction is the old fortress at the hilltop where Richard the Lion Hearted was kept for ransom, and walking the streets where people from that era had trodden.
We enjoyed a wine tasting (arranged by Tauck), and also had shopping time.
This is not a single destination target site, but a great stop on a river cruise.
Written 9 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

suparnarahul
Bengaluru, India7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2019
The climb to the top is steep, but there a number of stops on the way from where one gets different scintillating views of the Wachau valley. The ruins are a reminder of the violent and colourful history of the castle where King Richard was once held prisoner. The town below is quaint, old world and straight from a fairytale. Worth the visit !
Written 9 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Douglas M
Mount Vernon, ME636 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2019
A good walk to see this medieval castle erected in the early 12th century constructed in a strategic location overlooking the river Danube.
Written 28 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

K T
Toronto, Canada1,107 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2019 • Solo
Visited Dürnstein castle in September 2019. Dürnstein is a small and very picturesque village located along the Danube river. Being September, and a Thursday, it wasn’t too crowded with visitors, but still was lively with activity.

A lovely place to spend an afternoon, stroll and tour around. There are adorable restaurants to have lunch or dinner while enjoying the sights and nearby vineyards, perhaps indulging in some apricot liqueur which is very traditional and quite abundant here.

Hiked up the (pretty intense, but very exciting) steps to the incredible medieval castle ruins atop the city – I definitely recommend. The view is so amazing. The history is palpable and you’ll get a workout in the process. Bonus!

Must say that people with mobility or health issues probably wouldn’t do so well on the terrain, but even if you hike up a little bit the views are still magnificent.

A truly memorable day, and one of the highlights of my vacation.
Written 11 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

phillip r
Shipley, UK1,360 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2019 • Couples
Stopped at Durnstein while on a Danube river cruise and thought I'd visit Richard the Lionheart castle ruins where he was incarcerated!
Started but gave up as my asthma started playing up approximately 600 steps up a steep hill but am told it's worth the effort
Written 3 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kevin T
Boston, MA377 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019 • Couples
It is a bit of a climb up, but once you get there it is so worth it. The best views of the Wachau valley. It took us about 20 minutes to climb, there are plenty of stopping points along the route. Apparently thee is an easier route up, but we did not know that so we took the “stairs.” These ruins are an absolute must do in Dürnstein.
Written 7 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MaryannF650
Clarksville, TN1,500 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019 • Friends
During a river cruise, my husband and I, along with a group of seniors, were fortunate to be able to enjoy a walking tour of Durnstein. Although a small town, it is rich in history and very picturesque.

The ruined castle high above the town (about 45 min. there and back on foot) was begun in about 1200. Like most of the town, this castle was seriously damaged by Swedish troops in 1645 during the Thirty Years' War and then allow to crumble into complete disrepair.

It is a vigorous climb and therefore, we were unable to visit. However, we took amazing photographs. According to our friends, they stated that the castle isn't much but the view of Durnstein and the Wachau is more than worth the effort.
Written 7 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

1234texas
Seabrook, TX2,469 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2019 • Friends
The castle is the focal point of Dürnstein--very prominent on the skyline high on a "mountaintop." It is eye catching from the river. The castle was built in between 1140 - 1145 and eventually destroyed in a war with Sweden (they were very active in the area and have had a huge impact on the history). As an aside, we were told that the castle's claim to fame is having held King Richard the Lionheart captive.

Sad to say, there is not much that is intact of the original castle, but you can easily "fill in the blanks" if you have been to other restored castles--the principles are pretty basic! The views through the remaining gun ports and cracks in the walls are beautiful--as is the entire countryside. Lots of Kodak Moments here! The long shots are great and the views of the river are outstanding. Getting up (it is about 500+ feet above the river) here is half the fun/challenge of taking a hike up the very steep & loose gravel/rock path to the castle. There are few handholds along the way and you need to keep your focus on the path--BOTH up & down (which may be far more difficult for any in your group with mobility issues)! At the bottom is the town--very attractive and worth a quick run through to see the buildings and shops.

There is no fee to pay--the hike is the surcharge! It doesn't look as though 100's of people do this daily. Make absolutely certain that you have good sturdy shoes. I used my exercise sneakers as opposed to hiking boots--they provided good footing and I did not slip and slide as some of the group did. Keep in mind that you will be climbing over rocks, slippery dirt/gravel, around boulders, and up/down some relatively steep slopes. There is absolutely no way that anyone with physical handicaps should consider this walk! It takes more than two hours to get from/to the boat dock and the walk around the castle remains--which are very tricky if you want to see all of the remains of it.

Bottom line! This is a very pretty walk with many great views and photo opps. The remains of the castle are disappointing, but the trip is still a good one. I would not do it again, but then, it is a "one and done" activity in my book. There are many castles and cathedrals that I have visited a second or third time because you can't see everything in the first visit--this is not one of those!
Written 31 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TAIN2013
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia2,883 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2018 • Solo
The ruins of the historic medieval castle lie on a rather high hill and require a lengthy hike up a steep path. The castle's claim to fame is having held the British King Richard the Lionheart captive.

The castle offers excellent views over the Danube, the city and the surrounding Wachau valley but you need to be reasonably fit to get there.

So if you are interested in history, this is a must visit.
Written 30 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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