The Dürnstein Castle Ruins are castle ruins in the Wachau above the town of Dürnstein. The rock castle was built by the Kuenringers in the middle of the 12th century.
The castle is known, since the English King Richard the Lionheart, who returned home from the Third Crusade, was held prisoner from December 1192 to March 1193 under Hadmar II in Dürnstein or a neighboring castle on the initiative of Duke Leopold V and then handed over to the German Emperor Henry VI.
In 1306, a castle chapel was first mentioned, dedicated to the Evangelist John. In 1588, the castle was restored as a fortress by Streun von Schwarzenau. In 1645, in the final phase of the Thirty Years' War, the Swedes under Lennart Torstensson also conquered Dürnstein. When they withdrew, the Swedes blew up the castle gates.
In 1662 the castle was no longer inhabited, but could have been repaired. A year later, "Dürnstein Castle" appeared among the places of refuge from the Turkish threat. In 1679 the castle house was no longer inhabitable and was left to decay.
In 1882, the Starhemberg watchtower was built above Dürnstein. Prince Camillo Starhemberg had the access path built at his own expense. This path is now part of the Wachau World Heritage Trail.