Brief information:
- What is the Schallaburg? The Schallaburg is a historic castle in Lower Austria. It is a popular destination for culture enthusiasts and families.
- Highlights: The Renaissance castle complex with its towers, arcades, courtyards and castle garden. There are plenty of play opportunities for children
- Where is it located? The Schallaburg is located near Melk, just a few minutes drive from Melk Abbey or the Aggstein Castle Ruins. Schallaburg 1, 3382 Schallaburg
- Admission prices: here you can find the Online tickets. With the Lower Austria Card One-time entry is free.
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Box office closes one hour before
- How much time should I plan for? You should allow at least 2-3 hours to visit Schallaburg.
The Schallaburg is a fascinating historical ensemble of castle ruins, Renaissance gardens and exhibition centre. It is a popular destination for families.
International Exhibition Centre
Since its renovation in 1974, the Schallaburg has been a popular exhibition center. Exhibitions on various topics are regularly held here.
In 2023, for example, it was “Being a Child”, an interactive museum for children aged 4 and over. The exhibition shows how children have played and lived throughout history. Among other things, the milk tooth of the later Empress Sissi was on display.
April 6 to November 3, 2024: The exhibition “Renaissance then, now & here” at the Schallaburg is a journey back in time to an era that continues to shape our world today. The Renaissance was a time of awakening, networking and communication. It was characterized by new ideas and discoveries in the areas of individuality, art and knowledge.
The history of Schallaburg
The history of Schallaburg began about a millennium ago, when Sieghard X, Count of Schala, built a residential castle with an imposing wall to protect the surrounding villages. Over the centuries, this robust building remained almost unchanged and still stands today in front of the Renaissance castle that was built later.
The Schallaburg experienced its heyday around 500 years ago. Inspired by Italian architecture, Hans Wilhelm von Losenstein built it into a magnificent Renaissance castle that was unparalleled north of the Alps. Even at that time, an enlightened spirit reigned within the walls of the Schallaburg, as the Losenstein family's seat became the center of the new Protestant faith and housed a school that established a completely new concept of education.
Renaissance Garden
The Renaissance Garden is one of the few remaining Renaissance gardens in Austria. It was created in the 16th century and impresses with its geometric flowerbeds, fountains and sculptures.
The garden is particularly popular with children, not least because of the beautifully landscaped Marble run. Thankfully, there are balls available on site.
Every Saturday you can also Archery.
Terracotta Courtyard
The arcade courtyard of the Schallaburg is a two-story arcade with 1,600 terracotta figures. The figures depict mythical creatures, gods and other mythological figures.
Restaurant
In the castle courtyard you will find the restaurant, where you can dine both inside and outside. There are also daily specials, cakes and ice cream.
At lunchtime it can get quite busy, we recommend Reservations.
Short Information:
- What is Schallaburg? Schallaburg is a historic castle located in Lower Austria. It is a popular destination for culture enthusiasts and families.
- Highlights: The Renaissance castle complex with its towers, arcades, courtyards, and castle garden. There are ample play areas for children.
- Where is it located? Schallaburg is situated near Melk, just a short drive from Melk Abbey or the Aggstein Castle Ruins. Schallaburg 1, 3382 Schallaburg
- Admission Prices: You can find online tickets here. The one-time admission is free with the Lower Austria Card.
- Opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday, Sunday, and holidays: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Ticket office closes one hour before closing time.
- How much time should I plan? You should allocate at least 2-3 hours for a visit to Schallaburg.
Schallaburg is a fascinating historical ensemble consisting of a castle ruin, Renaissance garden, and exhibition center. It is a popular family destination.
International Exhibition Center
Since its renovation in 1974, Schallaburg has become a popular exhibition center. Regular exhibitions on various themes take place here. In 2023, there was an exhibition called “Being a Child,” an interactive museum for children aged 4 and older. The exhibition showcased how children have played and lived throughout history, including artifacts such as the milk tooth of the future Empress Sissi.
April 6 to November 3, 2024: The exhibition “Renaissance then, now & here” at Schallaburg is a journey through an era that continues to influence our world. The Renaissance was a time of innovation, networking, and communication, marked by new ideas and discoveries in the realms of individuality, art, and knowledge.
The History of Schallaburg
The history of Schallaburg began about a millennium ago when Sieghard X, Count of Schala, built a residential castle with an imposing curtain wall to protect the surrounding villages. Over the centuries, this robust structure remained largely unchanged and stands to this day in front of the later-built Renaissance castle.
Around 500 years ago, Schallaburg experienced its heyday. Under the influence of Italian architecture, Hans Wilhelm von Losenstein transformed it into a magnificent Renaissance castle that was unparalleled north of the Alps. Even at that time, Schallaburg was home to an enlightened spirit, as the Losenstein residence became a center of the new evangelical faith and housed a school that established a completely new concept of education.
Renaissance Garden
The Renaissance garden is one of the few remaining Renaissance gardens in Austria. It was established in the 16th century and is known for its geometric beds, fountains and sculptures.
The garden is particularly popular with children, thanks in part to the well-arranged marblerun. Marbles are provided on-site. Additionally, you can participate in archery every Saturday for €12.
Terracotta Courtyard
The arcaded courtyard of Schallaburg features a two-story arcade with 1,600 terracotta figures depicting mythical creatures, gods, and other mythological beings.
Restaurant
In the castle courtyard, you'll find the restaurant where you can dine both indoors and outdoors. They offer daily specials, cakes, and ice cream. It can get quite busy at lunch, so we recommend making a reservation.
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