History comes alive in Lower Austria's castles – not as a backdrop, but as a space full of stories, perspectives and meanings.
Visitors to these places will discover not only impressive architecture, but also spaces where the past, present and culture interact.
Grafenegg Castle rises up among ancient trees like a fairytale castle – and the entire grounds serve as a stage for world-class concerts. The modern open-air stage "Wolkenturm" blends spectacularly into the historic backdrop.
Once the summer residence of Prince Eugene, Schloss Hof enchants visitors with its 50-hectare Baroque garden, magnificent state rooms and Baroque estate with animals. The nearby Niederweiden Palace, with its fine Rococo architecture and historic game kitchen, invites you on a journey back in time to the world of Baroque indulgence – both palaces can be visited with a combined ticket.
Marchegg Castle is located in the heart of the Marchfeld natural and cultural landscape – a Baroque hunting lodge and pleasure palace that not only exudes history, but also impressively demonstrates the connection between humans and nature. The adjacent Lower Marchauen floodplains are home to one of the largest tree-nesting white stork colonies in Central Europe.
A quiet place steeped in history: where today walkers lose themselves among old lime trees and venerable walls, history was once written: Eckartsau Palace was once an imperial residence. The Baroque hunting lodge tells of splendour and farewells, of courtly hunting and the changing times. Surrounded by floodplain forest, today it offers culture, nature and quiet grandeur all in one.
Schallaburg Castle impresses with its terracotta arcades, enchanted garden and internationally renowned exhibitions on culture and history. It is a place where the Renaissance and the spirit of the times go hand in hand.
Rosenburg Castle towers majestically over the Kamp Valley – a prime example of magnificent Renaissance architecture and former residence of the Lower Austrian nobility. Its mighty fortifications, arcades, tournament courtyard and state rooms tell of a time of courtly festivities and chivalrous culture.
Idyllically situated above the Danube, Artstetten Castle is the final resting place of heir to the throne Franz Ferdinand. The family history is told here with great intimacy and dignity – in rooms that are still inhabited today.
In the heart of the Waldviertel region stands Weitra Castle – a striking Renaissance castle complex with medieval origins and late medieval alterations. Climb the tower, explore the arcaded courtyard, visit the Rococo theatre and discover history at the historic brewing and borderland museum.
Just a stone's throw from Vienna, Laxenburg Palace served as a retreat for the Habsburgs – with extensive palace grounds, the romantic Franzensburg castle and boats on the palace pond.
