Dürnstein is a town in the Wachau in Krems-Land, Austria. It is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Lower Austria.
The town gained its name from the medieval castle which overlooked it. The castle was called "Duerrstein" or "Dürrstein", from the German duerr/dürr meaning "dry" and Stein, "stone". The castle was dry because it was situated on a rocky hill, high above the damp conditions of the Danube River at the base of the hill, and it was built of stone.
In the castle above the town, King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England was held captive in 1193 by Duke Leopold V of Austria after their dispute during the Third Crusade. Duke Leopold suspected that King Richard ordered the murder his cousin Conrad of Montferrat in Jerusalem. And, Richard had personally offended Leopold by casting down his standard from the walls of Acre. Pope Celestine III excommunicated Duke Leopold for capturing a fellow crusader. Leopold gave custody of Richard to Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI, who imprisoned Richard in Trifels Castle.
The castle was almost completely destroyed by the Swedes in 1645. The Battle of Dürenstein was fought nearby in 1805.
In the land register, Dürnstein is subdivided into the Katastralgemeinden of Dürnstein, Oberloiben and Unterloiben.
Aggsbach Albrechtsberg an der Großen Krems Bergern im Dunkelsteinerwald Droß Dürnstein Furth bei Göttweig Gedersdorf Gföhl Grafenegg Hadersdorf-Kammern Jaidhof Krumau am Kamp Langenlois Lengenfeld Lichtenau im Waldviertel Maria Laach am Jauerling Mautern an der Donau Mühldorf Paudorf Rastenfeld Rohrendorf bei Krems Rossatz-Arnsdorf Schönberg am Kamp Senftenberg Spitz Sankt Leonhard am Hornerwald Straß im Straßertale Stratzing Weinzierl am Walde Weißenkirchen in der Wachau
Source: CIA Factbook, Wikipedia
Did you find it useful?
Do you have pictures or stories to share about Durnstein? Send them to
Hoteles Dürnstein
Member of the 4K.com™ network. Authoritative sites about hotels around the world.
Alberghi Dürnstein
Hotell Dürnstein
Hotel Dürnstein
Hotel Dürnstein
Hôtels Dürnstein
Hotéis Dürnstein
Durnstein酒店
Durnsteinホテル
Отели Durnstein
Ξενοδοχεία Durnstein