Austria, a landlocked country, is located in south-central Europe in the Eastern Alps.
The country is defined as being mostly mountainous and comes with a rich history.
Austria boasts a total of 40 castles and various fortresses.
The biggest of these castles is Schloss Schönbrunn.
The Austrian imperial family would summer in this castle sometime between WWI and the 18th century and it has been labeled a Unesco World Heritage site since 1996.
The oldest castle in Austria was constructed in 1077.
In this list, we’ve counted down the ten most beautiful castles that Austria offers.
The Most Beautiful Castles in Austria
1. Hohensalzburg Fortress
Hohensalzburg Fortress, also known as Festung Hohensalzburg, is the oldest fortress built in Austria, back in 1077.
The fortress overlooks the city of Salzburg, which was the home of Mozart.
It is the oldest and one of the largest fortresses from the 11th century.
The fortress was commissioned by the Archbishop of the time, Gebhard I of Helfenstein, to protect the prince bishops and the principality from any attacks.
At the time, the location was seen as a vantage point.
In all the years of its existence, the fortress has never been captured by an enemy of the city or the country.
The fortress is 7,000 m² (0.7 ha) in size and is situated 506 meters above sea level.
It took several centuries for it to be completed into the majestic piece of architecture we have come to know today.
Apart from being a fortress for protection, it was also used in WWI as a casern or a prison.
During World War I, it was used to host Italian prisoners of war, as well as Nazi activists, before Austria was annexed by Germany.
The fortress offers panoramic views of the city of Salzburg and has become one of the major tourist attractions for the city.
2. Ambras Castle
Ambras Castle, located in the hills of Innsbruck, Austria, sits 632 meters above sea level and is considered to be a beautifully preserved palace / Renaissance castle.
The castle was founded by Archduke Ferdinand II (1529-1595).
Today, it is one of the most important museums worldwide.
This architectural highlight is considered to be one of the most beautiful sights of Innsbruck and an art lover’s dream.
Art lovers from around the world come to view Europe’s oldest art collection in the Habsburg Portrait Gallery, which is spread out over three floors and is a reflection of the Habsburg Dynasty.
The gallery hosts over 200 portraits by world-famous painters such as Anthonis van Dyck, Peter Paul Rubens, Diego Velázquez, and many more.
The picturesque castle is surrounded by a beautiful English-style garden, a playground, and a duck pond.
3. Kreuzenstein Castle
Kreuaenstein Castle, located in the province of Lower Austria, north of Leobendorf village, this castle was built on the remains of a medieval castle that was demolished during the Thirty Years’ War.
The castle has a rich history, but today, it houses a museum and is a tourist attraction.
The castle dates back to the 12th century and was originally intended to be the Wilczek family’s vault.
What makes this castle so unique, is that the family wanted to build a very authentic-looking castle.
As such, they purchased various sections of medieval structures from all over Europe to construct the castle.
It was originally built by the Counts of Formbach and passed on through marriage to the Counts of Wasserburg.
In 1278, the castle became the possession of the Habsburgs.
Every year, from April to October, the castle hosts a show called the Adlerwarte Kreuzenstein.
In addition, the castle’s restaurant, Burgtaverne Kreuzenstein, was renovated to resemble the look and feel of a medieval tavern.
4. Schloss Hof
Schloss Hof is a palace located near the border of Slovakia, in Marchfeld, Austria.
At one point in time, it belonged to Prince Eugene of Savoy, who purchased it in 1726.
The architect, Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt, upgraded the castle to the Borque style in 1729 at the request of Prince Eugene of Savoy.
The palace is over 70 hectares in size and is Austria’s largest palace in the countryside.
It is surrounded by Baroque gardens that are adorned with beautiful fountains and sculptures and the whole estate is made up of various themed gardens and adventure walks.
Children can play in the leisure park or adventure park.
In addition, the palace is home to various breeds of animals.
Today, the palace is a major attraction for many tourists from all over the world.
It is a family-friendly destination that hosts many exhibitions and shows throughout the year.
5. Hohenwerfen
Hohenwerfen is a medieval rock castle perched on a hilltop overlooking a town called Werfen in Austria.
Today, the castle is also a museum.
It was built on a 623-meter precipice in 1075 by the Prince-Archbishopric of Salzburg and is considered to be the sister of Hohensalzburg Castle.
This breathtaking castle is surrounded by the Berchtesgaden Alps and is situated adjacent to the Tennen Mountains.
The castle was originally made of wood but by the 15th century, it had been developed into a stone structure.
Today, the castle belongs to the city of Salzburg and has been a major tourist attraction since 1987.
The castle featured in the 1968 film, Where Eagles Dare, as a fictional castle.
It is approximately an hour’s drive from Salzburg, or, alternatively, a two-hour drive from Munich, Germany.
6. Franzensburg
Franzensburg, a medieval-style castle, was built between 1801 and 1836.
It is located in Laxenburg, Lower Austria, Austria, and was named after the last holy Emperor who passed away in 1835: Francis II.
It is known as a water castle due to the fact that the castle is surrounded by water on an artificial island.
The castle consists of two parts: Ritterburg and Knappenburg.
It was originally designed as a museum.
The total size of the castle and its surrounding grounds is 250 hectares and it forms part of a castle park.
The park is designed in an old English landscape garden style.
It is a big tourist attraction and guided tours are offered throughout the year.
During summer, the castle hosts several theaters to entertain visitors.
7. Hochosterwitz
Hochosterwitz is considered by many to be one of the most impressive medieval castles in Austria.
The castle was built on top of a 172-meter dolomite rock and sits east of Sankt Veit an der Glan in Carinthia.
It is not only one of the area’s biggest tourist attractions but also a landmark for the country.
The castle has housed inhabitants since the Bronze Age.
It offers visitors a majestic view of the surrounding mountains, hills, and countryside.
The first mention of the castle was in the year 860.
During the 11th and 12th-century invasions of Turkey, the local population used the structure as a refuge.
The castle was returned to King Friedrich III after the death of Hans Schenk von Osterwitz, who, at the time, was the last owner of the original lien.
Only some parts of the castle are accessible to tourists from April through October each year.
Visitors walk along a 2,030 ft pathway up to the castle, passing 14 gates along the way.
The rooms hold various ancient artifacts, weaponry, paintings, and armor that tourists can view and admire.
There is a church, a guard museum, a castle museum, a courtyard, and various rooms to explore inside the castle gates.
8. Liechtenstein Castle
Liechtenstein Castle, originally built in 1133 as a tribute to the Prince of Liechtenstein, remained the property of royalty for over 200 years before being passed from one private castle lord to the next during the period 1300 to 1800.
Several renovations and extensions were added to the original structure during this period.
And, the castle walls were re-fortified in 1683, after an invasion by the Ottomans.
It became the property of Johann I of Liechtenstein in 1801 and, from this period on, underwent a series of restorations to restore it to its former glory.
Sadly, the castle was badly damaged and severely ransacked after WWII, while it was under the occupation of the Soviets.
Today, the castle is the residence of the Scouts association.
It is a major tourist attraction and many festivals are held from March through October when tourists from all over the world dawn upon the castle to marvel at its beauty.
9. Anif Water Palace
Anif Water Palace was originally built in 1520 and was once a summer home of the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg.
In 1837, the property was sold to Count Alois Arco-Stepperg.
After the exchange, the palace underwent renovations from 1838 to 1848 in a neo-Gothic style.
Today, it is a privately owned palace that cannot be toured by visitors.
The palace sits in the middle of a large artificial pond, south of the city of Salzburg, Austria.
After the death of Count Alois Arco-Stepperg, in 1891, the palace was passed on to the count’s closest relative, who was married to Count Ernst von Moy de Sons and fell into the hands of a French-noble family.
The furniture in the castle was placed under historical conservation status and much of it can now be viewed in the Carolino Augusteum Museum in Salzburg.
10. Ort Castle
Ort Castle, also known as Seeschloss Ort, is located in Gmunden in the Salzkammergut district of Austria.
The castle was built in 1080 by Hartnidus of Ort and sits in the middle of Traunsee lake.
Today, the castle is being used by the Federal Ministry for Land and Forestry as a study center.
In 1995, the city of Gmunden purchased the castle and in 1996 it was used for a famous Austrian TV series known as Schlosshotel Orth.
Visually, this castle is a masterpiece.
A very unique and special feature of the castle is the clockwork from 1634.
It has to be wound by hand.
The castle is a very popular wedding venue, hosting upward of 350 weddings a year.
It houses the Orther Stub’n restaurant and the Orther Stub’n souvenir shop.
In addition, various shows and readings are hosted in the castle throughout the year.
Austria Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Austria Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest castle in Austria?
Schloss Schönbrunn is the largest castle in Austria.
Who is the current Prince of Austria?
Karl von Habsburg.
Is there still a royal family in Austria?
Yes.
The Habsburg family is the royal family of Austria.
