After walking through the Templar Museum at Lockenhaus Castle, you should also visit this mysterious room. It is supposed to have been a sacred site of the Templars. Other voices say it was just a cistern.
Category: Castles
Ambras Castle in Innsbruck
Ambras Castle (Schloss Ambras) offers a chamber of art and curiosities. In this museum, you see a portrait of Vlad III, Prince of Wallachia, who is supposed to be the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s novel ‘Dracula’.
Neuhaus Castle in Stubenberg
Neuhaus Castle (Burg Neuhaus) stands in a forest near the Styrian place of Stubenberg am See. The owner offers tower apartments for holidays near Stubenberg Lake.
Neuenburg Castle high over Freyburg (Unstrut)
Neuenburg Castle (Schloss Neuenburg) located in the wine-growing area of Saale-Unstrut houses among others a wine museum. This photo was taken while enjoying a boat trip on the river Unstrut.
Huge music stands at Querfurt Castle
Three music stands (Notenständer) with a height of four metres remind me that Querfurt Castle (Burg Querfurt) houses a music school. Artist Ingo Güttler created these music stands that play music and form a sound installation. During festivals, the music stands will be removed.
Windegg Mansion in Reichenau
Windegg Mansion (Schloss Windegg) also known as the ‘Bürgle‘ was founded in the 14th century as a guesthouse for a nearby abbey. There is a rumour that Pope Martin V stayed here for some time after his election in 1417 at the Council of Constance.
Höch Castle in Flachau
Höch Caste (Schloss Höch), first mentioned in the 11th century, offers a nice view over the Flachau area. Inside there is a big salon with a splendid decoration made of wood. Owned by a shareholder of a pit (‘Gewerke‘) for a long time it serves as a venue for cultural events now.
Dürnstein Castle in Styria
Dürnstein Castle (Burgruine Dürnstein) was first mentioned as castrum Dierenstein in 1144. The castle is placed right at the border between Styria and Carinthia. I took this photo while riding a train between Friesach and Unzmarkt. One can see the catenary of the railroad on the left side of the picture.
Maßenburg in Leoben
The Maßenburg is a castle ruin on a hill high over Leoben. It was probably first built in the 13th century. Today hikers have there a great view of Leoben from a viewing tower built on the ruins of a former watch tower.
Room Elisabeth at Lockenhaus Castle
At Lockenhaus Castle I stayed at the room ‘Elisabeth’. Whereas the furniture was old fashioned, the bathroom was pretty modern. It was a corner room so I had a great view of the place Lockenhaus and parts of the castle itself.
Iron Maiden at Lockenhaus Castle
A ‘Eiserne Jungfrau’ (Iron Maiden) seen at Lockenhaus Castle. Though such devices are often shown at castles they are supposed not had been used at all. Probably they were just show pieces inspired by another device called ‘Schandmantel’ (Spanish Coat).
- Eiserne Jungfrau (Wikipedia)
- Schandmantel (Wikipedia)
Info boards at Dürnstein Castle
After climbing a steep trail up to Dürnstein Castle I came across a couple of information boards that told me some details about the life of Richard I of England also known as King Lionheart.