Schönbühel Castle crowns a rocky promontory approximately 40 meters above the Danube River in the Lower Austrian town of Schönbühel-Aggsbach, below Melk. Founded in the early twelfth century as a defensive fortress by Marchwardus de Schoenbuchele, the castle's striking architectural ensemble has been featured prominently on river cruises for centuries. While access to the interior is restricted and typically requires special permission, the castle's picturesque location and dramatic cliff-top position make it one of the most photographed landmarks along the Danube. The castle's dramatic silhouette against the river landscape exemplifies medieval Austrian architecture.
