Aggstein Castle

Aggstein Castle stands on a rocky spur above the Danube River in Lower Austria’s Wachau region. It was likely built in the early 12th century by Manegold III of Acchispach, also known as Aggsbach. The castle’s strategic location allowed control over river traffic and regional trade routes.

In 1181, the Kuenring family of Aggsbach-Gansbach took ownership. During the Kuenringer revolt against Duke Frederick II in 1230–31, the castle was besieged and captured. Following Frederick II’s death, the castle changed hands amid succession conflicts. In 1295–96, Leutold I of Kuenring-Dürnstein rebelled against Duke Albert I, leading to another siege and capture. The last Kuenring owner was Leutold II, who held the castle from 1348 to 1355, after which it began to decline.

In 1429, Duke Albert V confiscated the castle from the Maissau family and gave it to his chamberlain, Jörg Scheck von Wald. Scheck von Wald rebuilt the castle to protect Danube shipping and gained toll rights in 1438. However, he became a notorious robber knight, attacking passing vessels. In 1463, Georg von Stain, another robber knight, besieged and defeated Scheck von Wald, holding the castle as security for debts owed by the duke.

From 1476 to 1477, Ulrich Freiherr von Graveneck controlled Aggstein but soon surrendered it to Duke Frederick III. The duke then stationed tenants and caretakers to stop further plundering. In 1529, during the first Ottoman siege of Vienna, Ottoman forces burned the castle. It was later rebuilt and fortified with artillery openings to improve defense.

After 1606, Anna Freiin von Polheim und Parz owned the castle and renovated it with Renaissance-style chancery buildings. Following her death, the castle was neglected, and many stones were taken for nearby monastery construction. Ownership passed through the Starhemberg and Beroldinger families until 1930, when Count Oswald von Seilern-Aspang acquired it. His descendants remain owners today.

Despite several sieges, the castle was reportedly never taken by direct assault. Attacks likely ended through starvation or other indirect means. The castle is linked to local legends, especially the Rosengärtlein, a rocky balcony associated with stories from the 15th-century rebuilding period.