Description: For the sportive delegates we offer a hike on the „Vogelbergsteig" (Bird's Mountain Trail). This is the most spectacular part of the World Heritage Trail Wachau. We start in Dürnstein and go up 350 m and enjoy the amazing views down to castle and village Dürnstein. The way back will lead us to the remains of famous castle Dürnstein where the English king Richard Lionheart was imprisoned by the Austrian duke after a crusade. Finally we will relax in one of the many local taverns.
Length of activity, elevation and difficulty: Easy hike with a few exposed parts Totally abt. 4 hours walking time

The Kuenring family had bought the area surrounding the castle from the Tegernsee Abbey in the late 11th century.

Hadmar I of Kuenring, who had also founded Zwettl Abbey, had the present castle constructed in the middle of the 12th century in a strategic location overlooking the river Danube. The castle is connected to the city of Dürnstein through a defensive wall extending from the city walls.

In 1428 and 1432, Hussites plundered city and castle of Dürnstein.The castle is known for being one of the places where Richard I of England was imprisoned after being captured near Vienna by Leopold V, Duke of Austria, in 1192.

Near the end of the Thirty Years' War, Swedish troops under Lennart Torstensson conquered Dürnstein in 1645. Upon their departure, they destroyed parts of the structure. As of 1622, the castle was no longer inhabited permanently, but was still listed as a possible shelter in the Austro-Turkish War (1663–1664). In 1663, Conrad Balthasar of Starhemberg purchased the castle, which is still owned by his heirs to this date. From 1679 on, however, the castle was no longer habitable and was abandoned.