Dürnstein
A fortified village at the foot of a ridge in the rocky Wachau region of the Danube river. It sits on the north shore of the Danube, at a bend in the river. Terraced vineyards line a ridge above the town, and produce the fine Heuriger wine for which the Wachau is famous. The town's main street, or "hauptstrasse," runs through the town end-to-end, bounded on the south by a fortified gate. Inside, the Church of the Poor Clares tends to the villagers.
A castle of the same name lies about a 45-minute walk up a twisting path from the village below. Dilapidated Roman walls form the skeleton of the fortress, another stronghold of the Babenberg family.
When the Duke of Austria captured and imprisoned King Richard the Lionhearted of England during the Third Crusade, he imprisoned the monarch here at Dürnstein (during Richard's stay, until 1193, the king had an illustrious affair with the beautiful musician Blondel). Eventually Richard was transferred to the Imperial Castle of Trifels in Germany and ransomed back to England.
A fortified village at the foot of a ridge in the rocky Wachau region of the Danube river. It sits on the north shore of the Danube, at a bend in the river. Terraced vineyards line a ridge above the town, and produce the fine Heuriger wine for which the Wachau is famous. The town's main street, or "hauptstrasse," runs through the town end-to-end, bounded on the south by a fortified gate. Inside, the Church of the Poor Clares tends to the villagers.
A castle of the same name lies about a 45-minute walk up a twisting path from the village below. Dilapidated Roman walls form the skeleton of the fortress, another stronghold of the Babenberg family.
When the Duke of Austria captured and imprisoned King Richard the Lionhearted of England during the Third Crusade, he imprisoned the monarch here at Dürnstein (during Richard's stay, until 1193, the king had an illustrious affair with the beautiful musician Blondel). Eventually Richard was transferred to the Imperial Castle of Trifels in Germany and ransomed back to England.
Great story!!!
KG
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