CASTLES POLITISCHER BEZIRK ROHRBACH

Altenhof Castle in Upper Austria's Rohrbach district dates to 1204, making it one of the region's oldest structures. The castle is notable for housing Austria's largest castle church and commanding a terraced position 600 meters above the Rannatal valley, three kilometers north of the Danube. Reconstructed after a 1724 fire and owned by the Salburg family since 1602, Schloss Altenhof now offers holiday apartments and serves as a venue for weddings, celebrations, and seminars, with internal visits available by appointment.

Helfenberg Castle is a Renaissance fortification located above the village of Helfenberg in the Rohrbach district of Upper Austria. Originally a modest fortification built around 1250 as documented by its founder 'Wirint de Helfenberch,' the castle underwent major expansion in 1285 under the lords of Piber. Completely rebuilt in 1607 by Hans Christoph von Oedt 300 meters above the previous site, it featured an extensive library and represented a dramatic architectural transformation. The castle passed through various noble families before becoming property of Countess Olympia Revertera-Salandra in 1893.

Burgruine Haichenbach, also known as Kerschbaumer Schlössl, first appeared in documents in 1160 when brothers Otto and Wernher von Eichenbach held the fortification. Perched 450 meters above sea level on a mountain ridge creating the dramatic Schlögener loop of the Danube, the castle gradually fell into ruin after 1529. Today the atmospheric ruins have been converted into a scenic viewing platform offering breathtaking panoramic vistas across the Danube Valley and surrounding Alpine landscape, attracting hikers and nature enthusiasts exploring the region's dramatic topography.

Rannariedl Castle perches dramatically on a wooded hillside high above the Danube River near Neustift im Mühlkreis in the Mühlviertel region of Upper Austria. Dating to approximately 1240, this elongated fortified castle was originally constructed to control river commerce and security along this strategic waterway. With its austere medieval architecture and commanding position overlooking the Danube valley, the castle remains a striking landmark visible from passing boats. Though privately owned and not open to the public interior, the castle can be viewed from the outside, offering visitors panoramic vistas of the surrounding Danube landscape and medieval fortifications.

Burg Pürnstein, situated in the Bohemian Forest region near Neufelden in Upper Austria, is a medieval castle with over a thousand years of documented history, first mentioned in records from 1010. Known as "the last fortress and the first castle," Pürnstein served as both a fortress and bishop's castle under the Passau dynasty. During the medieval period, it became one of the most heavily fortified castles in the country under the Starhemberg family and played a crucial defensive role during the region's Peasants' Wars. Positioned at 537 metres above sea level, this historic stronghold exemplifies the architectural evolution from fortress to castle, preserving important medieval construction techniques and serving as a testament to the strategic importance of Upper Austrian territory throughout the High and Late Middle Ages.