More than 100 years ago, summer visitors loved to walk to the Schwarz Alm – a small alpine hut surrounded by a large meadow.

Today is no different The Schwarz Alm Zwettl is considered an oasis of calm in the heart of the Waldviertel. In a wonderfully quiet forest clearing just outside the brewing town of Zwettl, you will find the rest and indulgence hotel with a wonderful view of the surrounding area.

Like the entire hotel, the 48 bright rooms with balcony or terrace were completely renovated in winter 2016 and reflect the colors of nature.

Thanks to its bright and light-flooded construction, our AlmSPA offers a fantastic view of the natural landscape of the Waldviertel. You will be spoiled with a heated indoor pool, natural swimming biotope, 2 saunas, 2 steam baths, relaxation rooms, fitness & infrared cabin.

Enjoy the new Waldviertel cuisine – consciously regional, authentic and newly refined. The Waldviertel delicatessen has a lot to offer. Poppies, carp, potatoes, game and herbs are the archaic basic products of the region. This is how the traditional is combined with new inspiration.

The incomparable quiet location on the large forest clearing and the Waldviertel hospitality with its culinary specialties make the Schwarz Alm Zwettl a popular destination.

Sapphire Suite
Our premium category “Sapphire ” (named after a beer specialty from the Zwettler brewery) in our “garden wing” offers you enough space to really feel good. Large panoramic windows create a light-flooded living experience and guarantee you a fantastic view of the forest and meadow.

The play of colors from the green of the meadow and the woody tones can be found in the room. Here you can make plans in a stylish atmosphere and review the day. With clear, simple shapes, natural materials and the integrated rain shower, the SPA atmosphere in the bathroom is underlined again.

The included set-up allows you to end the day on the cozy loggia with a cup of aromatic Segafredo coffee & Sonnentor tea. Due to a comfortable sofa bed, this room is also ideal for a maximum of 4 people.

Hadmar Classic
Enjoy Waldviertel cosiness in our “Hadmar Classic” rooms (named after a beer specialty from the Weitra beer workshop) . Equipped with cozy carpeting, a comfortable seating area and a spacious balcony.

This room offers plenty of space for relaxed living. On the balcony with a view of the surrounding alpine meadow, you can review the impressions of the day. Due to a comfortable sofa bed, this room is ideal for a maximum of 3 people.

Kitchen Philosophy
Welcome to our restaurant at the Schwarz Alm Zwettl. The “New Waldviertel Kitchen”. How we see our kitchen line? Well – this is deliberately kept regional and authentically Waldviertel. We draw mainly from the diverse delicatessen “Waldviertel”.

Poppies, carp, potatoes, cereals, game, high-quality meat and a variety of garden and wild herbs are our typical basic products. And for that we are grateful and very proud to have this wealth on our kitchen doorstep.

But despite all the ties to home, the people of the Waldviertel are also innovative, creative, inventive and, above all, curious people who like to keep their noses in the wind and try out new things.

However, he never forgets his uncomplicated nature and down-to-earthness. This is also reflected in the creativity of our dishes – allow new things and simply try them out. The award-winning beers from the Zwettl private brewery harmonize perfectly with the new Waldviertel cuisine.

“Cooking with and with beer” – Under this title, many creative dishes have been created over time, which go perfectly with Original, Pilsner, Zwickl, organic beer & Co.

We have listed our range of beers for you on our own beer menu and we source our wines without exception from Austria. The fruit juices from rural production come from the Thayatal and the great distillates directly from the Waldviertel and Austria.

Restaurant

Enjoy Waldviertler delicacies in the bright conservatory or in the rustic Alm-Stüberl. Our Zwicklschank invites you to spend cozy hours and in summer our wonderful panorama terrace is a great attraction.

Almteichhütte

The Almteichhütte is located a few minutes from the hotel and offers a number of advantages with its incomparable location on the private pond.

When guests are staying at the hotel, we host private parties for up to 25 people in our new cabin. It is ideal for a cozy get-together with a barbecue buffet, farmer’s feast or Heurigen buffet.

Beer
Briefly on the history of the private brewery Zwettl. It was founded in 1708 as a so-called “Stiegenbrauerei” by the Schickenhof, a farm belonging to the Zwettl monastery.

In 1890, Georg Schwarz, the great-grandfather of the current owner, immigrated from Bavaria and acquired the brewery, which had an output of less than 1,000 hectoliters at the time.

Full of initiative and drive, he set about expanding the brewery. Ten years later and after electrification of the company, the output was already 4,692 hectoliters. As a result, the brewery went through difficult times.

Both the economic crisis of the 1930s and the turmoil of the Second World War and the subsequent period of Russian occupation caused the brewery to stagnate in its development.

The big upturn only came with the expansion of the brewery in the 1960s and 1970s. With the fall of the beer cartel in 1979, the Zwettl brewery finally made the breakthrough to become a solid, medium-sized brewery with an annual output of around 200,000 hectoliters.

AlmSPA
The new “AlmSPA” wellness area in the Hotel Schwarz Alm Zwettl offers light-flooded views of the Waldviertel landscape thanks to its modern design. A SPA basket with a cozy bathrobe, bath towels and slippers is available to you free of charge for the duration of your stay.

Sauna & steam bath

Let yourself be pampered by the ambience and the smell of natural Nordic wood. Infusions stimulate your circulation, support the detoxification process and at the same time care for your skin and respiratory organs.

The sea-fresh health experience

Finely dissolved sea salt brine is atomized at regular intervals in the brine bath. This achieves an additional cleaning and care effect for the entire breathing area.

The relaxing climate

Completely different from the sauna, here you can enjoy an atmosphere of moist heat instead of dry heat. The restorative humidity ensures that your blood circulation is stimulated and muscle tension is relieved. Stress is reduced, limb and joint pains subside.

The gentle warmth

The Bio Sauna enables you to enjoy a sauna experience that is gentle on the circulation (45-55 degrees) thanks to the gentle warmth. Access to our entire sauna area is permitted to guests over the age of 14.

Immerse yourself in the world of Alm-Kraft
At the end of the sauna bath, an extended rest phase is an absolute must. In the spacious relaxation area you can let the pleasant warmth work its magic on you.

In addition, we pamper your muscles with water beds “Room of Silence”, because these beds are especially healthy for the back! Nothing stands in the way of your complete relaxation. We also offer you a solarium for a fee.

Variety ensures well-being
We offer our guests a varied range of water in the AlmSPA. Be it in the 350m² natural swimming biotope, where you can do your laps after the sauna or in between, or in our new heated indoor pool with a size of 5×10 m, from which you can enjoy an incomparable view .

Keep your body in shape!
Our fitness room is equipped with the latest cardio fitness equipment . If the weather doesn’t play along, you can simply do your run indoors. Here at the Hotel Schwarz Alm you not only have the opportunity to relax, but also to get your body in shape and keep it.

Hiking in the forest district
Enjoy a wonderful hiking holiday in the Waldviertel. Experience unforgettable hikes along the beautiful river landscape of the Kamp, past picturesque palaces, castles and monasteries.

“Whoever walks – sees, hears, smells and feels more of the country!” This quote from the photographer and passionate Waldviertel hiker Reinhard Mandl sums it up: Hiking is the best way to get closer to the country and its people.

The Schwarz Alm Zwettl is definitely one of the best starting points for an unforgettable nature experience. In addition to marked circular hiking trails, which start right in front of the hotel, the hotel is also a great starting point for numerous hiking trails that lead right past the house.

Guided hikes – A special experience

Would you like to be carried away by our local and certified hiking guides into the beautiful natural landscape of the Waldviertel? Guided hikes take place twice a week and at any time on request, which start directly in front of the hotel.

Of course, we would also be happy to organize your personal and individual hike for you. According to your wishes. And if our boss spontaneously goes for a round of Nordic walking early in the morning, you are of course cordially invited to accompany him.

you will find a small overview of the upcoming hikes with our certified hiking guides and nature and landscape mediators. If you prefer to start your hiking day spontaneously and individually, we recommend the guided hiking tour at the Ottenstein reservoir .

For further hiking dates, it is best to simply contact us by e-mail . Our co-hosts at reception will be happy to help you.

Golf – The perfect green
Nature is the protagonist in the Waldviertel, a world that makes you want to go out, exercise, experience outdoor adventures, do sports and enjoy! Here you can get an insight into the wide range of offers in our region.

Schloss-Hotel THALHEIM is a place that delights its visitors. The unique flair of the carefully renovated historic walls, the extensive park and the enchanting gardens in combination with the best food and drink, comfortable rooms, top service and a wide range of recreation offers pleasure for all senses at the highest level!

When the gates open, guests can expect simplicity and harmony in a timeless ambience – for people who want to find respectful treatment, peace, quiet and tranquility.

As a retreat for self-discovery, for dialogues and discussions. Carefully selected style elements and natural materials characterize an uncomplicated and elegant overall impression.

Staying at Schloss Thalheim in Lower Austria
The rooms and suites at Schloss THALHEIM in Lower Austria are the perfect accommodation for discerning guests near Vienna. You will love the special flair of the country house steeped in history, our cooking and our parks!

Not long ago Schloss THALHEIM was still a ruin, today it exudes a new glamour. The historical walls were painstakingly and carefully renovated and now house a luxurious hotel that offers its guests a whole load of rest, relaxation and indulgence.

Our “Am Schlossgarten” rooms, the flower suites and executive suites in the historical country house are waiting for you to experience them!

A Provençal ambience awaits you at Schloss THALHEIM. There is plenty of space for 2 people in a double room while families with up to 4 people can enjoy a cosy atmosphere in a “Deluxe” double room.

Following the careful finishing touches in other parts of the building, you can now see the comfort of the flower suites and executive suites in the country house hotel for yourself. Antique style furniture is decorated with reliefs, cornices or spiral volutes.

Rooms and suites at Schloss THALHEIM
You will love Schloss THALHEIM! The vast grounds with lots of gardens and a large park with even a stream flowing through it and the hotel’s historical ensemble of buildings are unique! The rooms and suites where you can stay are just as unique!

Provençal style rooms
The distinctive interior design style of Provence has been fascinating and enchanting people for centuries and it has long since secured a place among the most popular interiors internationally with its unique charm.

Cosy, inviting, low-key rustic, extremely romantic and with a strong emphasis on nature – that’s what living à la Provence stands for and this style is therefore absolutely ideal for your stay at Schloss THALHEIM.

As the bright rooms inside the historical walls furnished with elegant natural materials, comfortable furniture, sensuous fabrics in light shades of stone, blue, lilac and green typical of Provence and lots of lovingly arranged accessories go perfectly with Schloss THALHEIM’s wonderful park and gardens and the surrounding nature.

Feel at home, relax, succumb to a journey for the soul – you don’t even have to try in the Provence rooms at Schloss THALHEIM.

First-class accommodation
We follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus and Alexander von Humboldt with this colonial style. These explorers and their successors brought cultural achievements from all over the world to Europe.

The colonial style therefore plays with the colours and patterns of different styles. You can find floral paisley patterns next to Asian floral motifs or graphic ornamentation next to the French toile de Jouy design.

Our flower suites await you and your loved ones for a high-class stay. As the elegant and cosy rooms are not just located in a historical wing of the slightly higher situated former manor house, but also offer you all the luxury and amenities you need for a unique stay.

The 5 flower suites are influenced by exotic, poetic blossoms and each one is assigned to a flower, such as: tulip, hibiscus, lily, magnolia and orchid.

Eating & drinking – culinary indulgence
Schloss THALHEIM offers all its guests and visitors specialities from Austria, Mediterranean specialities, an impressive breakfast buffet, a cosy café with homemade sweet dishes and a magical ambience. Every guest is welcome at Schloss THALHEIM and is sure to find indulgence to their taste.

“Am Schlossgarten” restaurant
In our à la carte “Am Schlossgarten” restaurant our kitchen team indulges you with typical regional and Mediterranean specialities. Enjoy superb dishes and our stunning terrace where the sun shines for you from breakfast onwards.

“Am Schlossgarten” café
The “Am Schlossgarten” café has the best homemade pastries, dessert and drinks of offer for a break and rest in between. The sunny terrace with view over the garden is clearly a place to feel great and relax.

Tea house
Another feature at Schloss THALHEIM is the tea house in our park. This is where we are exclusively dedicated to the elixir tea and its flavour and cultural aspects. Traditional tea ceremonies are held here regularly, which you should definitely book in advance.

Perfect for day guests, holidaymakers and celebrations
Spend your holiday in the Mostviertel region and experience pure tranquillity, rest, relaxation and indulgence at Schloss THALHEIM. You are not just catered for with first-class dining here all the time.

Visitors are welcome to pop by for breakfast or dinner, a coffee in the afternoon or a glass of wine on our magical terrace at any time.

Exclusive tea house at Schloss Thalheim
The Schloss THALHEIM hotel sees itself as a cosmopolitan establishment near Vienna. Our doors and gates in Lower Austria are open to guests from all over the world, whichever requests and expectations they come to us with.

But it is also part of our basic concept to be interested in other supposedly foreign or very simply new worlds, cultures and traditions and to familiarise you with them during your holiday or visit, if you so wish. The tea house at Schloss Thalheim is one particular example of this.

In the historical garden pavilion opposite the hotel and restaurant building, we are dedicated to the elixir tea and its almost endless flavour and cultural aspects in a way that is still relatively unknown in this country.

As exquisite tea has not only been enriching our life and health for thousands of years but also opens up a whole new world with every cup.

Tea time at Schloss THALHEIM
Our tea house near Vienna awaits you for tea time every Sunday at 3.00 p.m. Different tea varieties are prepared for you to taste while teas from all over the world are talked about in depth. The focus is on a relaxed encounter among tea fans and the interaction of all guests who we always have a little gift prepared for.

Experience original tea ceremonies
The tea ceremony is a ritual act with an ancient history that is conducted by an expert master with maximum concentration following a precise sequence.

At the Schloss Thalheim hotel’s tea house you can experience this in the middle of the idyllic Mostviertel region with all your senses and musical accompaniment by Chinese instruments such as the guzheng, guqin or pipa.

Tea tasting
Tea is a world of intensive aromas, flavours, colours and shapes and is presented during our tastings as part of a ceremonial preparation based on the traditional Chinese art of tea making. The atmosphere is relaxed and you should and will simply feel at home and enjoy yourself.

The difference to a tea ceremony is that several explanations and more in-depth information is provided about the tea varieties being tasted. The aim is to identify the differences between the tea varieties and preparation methods and of course enjoy the tea.

Chinese tea, culture and art
With this theme we give you the opportunity to not only get to know more about tea but also about forms of art which are rooted in Chinese history and often associated with the tea culture. And all of this just a short drive away from Vienna.

Meditation in the tea house
Silence is an important element of the tea ceremony, there is no speaking during the ceremony. On a spiritual level the understanding gained from the silence can be compared to “consciousness”.

As offered by us, the combination of Qigong, Tai Chi or guided meditation and exquisite teas is not focused on teaching any knowledge about tea but on acquiring understanding.

Tea and dining
Experience the world of tea in the Schloss Thalheim tea house. Send us your no-obligation enquiry for an indulgent holiday in the Mostviertel region in Lower Austria, near Vienna.

Wellness, treatments and tranquillity at Schloss THALHEIM
Look forward to an extensive range of services for the mind, body and soul at Schloss THALHEIM in Kapelln. A place of peace and tranquillity is being created here in a place of energy. A wellness holiday in Lower Austria will exceed your expectations!

Schloss THALHEIM is situated on an ancient place of energy that has already been used by the Celts and whose energy you still cannot escape today.

Energy lines run through the whole area. Stones, impressive boulders made from sandstone, that have been lying in this place for thousands of years and the flowers of life do their bit to contribute to the special atmosphere at Schloss THALHEIM.

The spacious park and many gardens make Schloss THALHEIM a place of peace and relaxation in harmony with nature. The Zen garden near the tea house is particularly impressive.

Wellness – offer at Schloss THALHEIM
Schloss THALHEIM has always been a very spiritual place radiating a positive energy that restores the balance between the mind, body and soul. Large parts of Schloss THALHEIM are dedicated solely to wellness and relaxation.

Chill-out rooms and rooms for meditation and reflection help restore and strengthen inner balance. In addition, we offer a balanced range of spa services and treatments for hotel guests.

Our modern SPA with two Finnish saunas and a steam bath as well as treatment rooms with state-of-the-art technology offer the highest level of comfort and guarantee long-lasting relaxation.

We also offer an excellent selection of treatments, ranging from Ayurvedic full body or half body massages to relaxation packages and cranio-sacral bodywork. Our hair and beauty service completes our feel-good offer. A team of highly trained massage and beauty therapists are dedicated to your well-being.

Yoga & Meditation
Look forward to an extensive range of services for the mind, body and soul at Schloss THALHEIM in Kapelln.

Positive energy and inner balance
Schloss THALHEIM has always been a very spiritual place radiating a positive energy that restores the balance between the mind, body and soul. Large parts of Schloss THALHEIM are dedicated solely to wellness and relaxation.

Chill-out rooms and rooms for meditation and reflection help restore and strengthen inner balance. In addition, we offer a balanced range of spa services and treatments for hotel guests.

Yoga & Meditation at Schloss THALHEIM
Our unique yoga & meditation room is another interior architectural highlight at Schloss Thalheim and fascinatingly combines the carpentry art of the late 16th century with the elegant Asian flair of today. Here you can practice Yoga, Qi Gong and other types of exercise to regain your inner balance or activate new energy.

Parties & celebrations at Schloss THALHEIM
Birthday parties, anniversaries, weddings, christenings, Christmas parties – you can find the best conditions for your celebration or festive event at Schloss THALHEIM in Kapelln in the Mostviertel region.

The elegant rooms at Schloss THALHEIM, the chapel, amphitheatre, restaurants, vast park and beautiful gardens offer you an extremely stylish setting for your celebration. Our staff are professionals in organising events – together we make your celebration an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

We clarify what you want in a personal meeting and plan your tailor-made event. We are sure to find the right room or suitable location at Schloss THALHEIM.

On request we can take care of the right decoration and all the other finer details, such as technical equipment or the music you want. Your celebration is in the right hands with us.

Celebrate a christening, graduation or birthday totally privately at Schloss THALHEIM. Say “I do” in our chapel and use our ballroom for your unforgettable wedding reception.Or plan your business celebration with us. Thank your staff for a successful business year.

Enjoy gourmet cuisine at Schloss THALHEIM, as our excellent team led by head chef Patrick Marx caters for you and your guests with first-class regional delicacies and international specialities. You will love the Schloss THALHEIM wine cellar and our top service leaves nothing to be desired.

Impress your guests with the very special flair that Schloss THALHEIM offers. The hotel and gardens are a suitable setting for your celebratory event. Our experienced staff assist you with planning the celebration and make sure that it runs smoothly.

Get married in the chapel
Our chapel designed by Jakob Prandtauer is steeped in history and superb for wedding parties with up to 70 people. Even Prandtauer married his Elisabeth Rennberger here in the splendid setting of Schloss THALHEIM in 1692.

The Schloss Thalheim chapel is the perfect size. By offering space for about 40 people seated and 30 people standing, you can actually call it a small church. On the other hand, its size always guarantees a private setting and extremely romantic atmosphere – not least due to the colourful stained glass windows.

The single nave building has an accessible slightly raised choir stall with wooden balustrade, small organ and direct access to the manor house. The chapel has a Baroque altar and all of this not far from Vienna.

Wedding reception in the ballroom
Our large ballroom is perfect for your wedding reception. Or choose one of the other dignified rooms that meets your requirements. The terrace in front of our park as well as our gardens and park can also be used for coffee and cake, light refreshments or the reception. Whatever you want.

A wedding is a very personal affair. Which is why we are happy to advise you in person by appointment, take you on a tour of Schloss THALHEIM and discuss the individual details and your ideas for your special day with you. Send us an event enquiry and we will take care of planning your wedding together.

A ceremony in the amphitheatre or the hotel’s elegant rooms
The “amphitheatre” (open-air theatre) in Schloss THALHEIM park offers the ideal setting for the civil ceremony. This impressive location is situated behind the chapel nestled in our fragrant rose gardens. If the weather does not play ball, the elegantly furnished hotel rooms are an equally good alternative.

Your special business celebrations at Schloss Thalheim
You can find the best conditions for your business celebration at Schloss THALHEIM in Kapelln in the Mostviertel region.

The elegant rooms at Schloss THALHEIM, the ballroom, restaurants, vast park and beautiful gardens offer you an extremely stylish setting for your business celebration. Our staff are professionals in organising events – together we make your celebration an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

We clarify what you want in a personal meeting or over the phone and plan your tailor-made business celebration. We are sure to find the right room or suitable location at Schloss THALHEIM.

Unique castle hotel near Vienna
Regardless of where you’re coming from, at which time of year, in what mood you’re in and how much time you have, head for the Schloss THALHEIM hotel in Lower Austria and you will be positively surprised and even amazed. You will love your visit and holiday here.

The vast grounds steeped in history with their historical wings, buildings and chapel have been carefully brought back to life, modernised and restored with an exceptionally meticulous love of detail.

Situated almost exactly in the geographical centre of Lower Austria, nestled in the gently sloping hills of the Mostviertel region, surrounded by a magnificent park with old trees, rose and Baroque gardens is the Schloss THALHEIM luxury hotel.

A perfect symbiosis of the past and future
The old and established has not had to give way to anything, quite the opposite. Everything, even the tiniest details or references to the history and personality of this magical country house, has been picked up on.

And where time had obliterated the clues, research was carried out, for example at the Austrian National Library in Vienna.

As a result, numerous objects, parts of buildings and rooms in this unique country house ensemble are now visible again and can be experienced true to the original. For you and for anyone who wants to spend a holiday at the Schloss THALHEIM hotel.

A first-class traditional empire
Naturally, it was ensured down to the tiniest detail when recreating the entire country house grounds and surrounding gardens and outdoor areas that all the requirements of an exclusive historical hotel were met and maximum comfort is guaranteed on your holiday in all respects.

There are no limits to the modern ways in which you can simply feel at home, recharge your batteries, relax, enjoy a holiday or spend just a few wonderful hours within the historical walls of the Schloss THALHEIM hotel.

A country house and hotel with history
Schloss THALHEIM near Kapelln is located in Lower Austria in the part of the Mostviertel region where the landscape spreads out into vast hills wonderfully close to the Danube.

The country house originates in the 17th century, the foundation stone for the so-called “Altschloss” with three floors and long elongated adjoining domestic wing was probably even laid around 1600.

As the name Schloss Thalheim, or formerly Thallhamb, already implies, the historical ensemble of buildings is situated at the base of a gently sloping hill and therefore in a flat valley (T(h)al).

With the opening of its doors as the Schloss Thalheim luxury hotel, this gem that has been lovingly brought back to life now exudes a totally new glamour. As a result, you and all its guests today can be part of the continuation of its long and in parts not completely reconstructible history into the 21st century too.

Formerly an idyllic country house, now a gem of a hotel near Vienna
The Schloss Thalheim hotel’s vast U-shaped designed grounds consist of a group of buildings from different eras in history. The “Altschloss” and its domestic wing were extended several times.

One historical extension was built on in the 18th century, the last important one at the end of the 19th century when an additional residential wing was added.

Guests today, and perhaps you too soon, can enjoy the entire ensemble with its high hipped roofs, fireplaces and an old Khevenhüller coat of arms over the door – and lots more.

As following the completed restoration, the former Schloss Thalheim riding hall, for example, is also accessible as a spacious dance hall and event room. The “Am Schlossgarten” restaurant is accommodated in the stables and tea is celebrated in the free-standing tea house in the garden.

Splendid gardens and a Baroque chapel designed by Prandtauer
Special attention was paid to returning the adjacent gardens to full bloom with the continuation of the country house’s history. A Baroque garden, rose garden and numerous other gardens surround the buildings.

Incorporating the original garden architecture from the 17th century, the hill surrounding the manor house at the back now falls away in terraces again and as a park it creates a harmonious panorama when you are whiling away the hours in the Am Schlossgarten restaurant or enjoying breakfast in the sun on the terrace in front of it.

One special highlight is the Schloss Thalheim chapel designed in High Baroque style by the famous architect of Melk Abbey, Jakob Prandtauer.

Celebrating a wedding there, not far from Vienna and then perhaps stepping out into the gardens with open-air stage is the ultimate dream. Jakob Prandtauer himself also found love at Schloss Thalheim back then. He married the former owner’s lady-in-waiting on 21 July 1692.

Enchanting gardens
The Schloss Thalheim hotel’s gardens near Vienna, St. Pölten and the Wachau region are a great tribute to the diversity and beauty of the flora and fauna. The extremely tasteful garden architecture also brings the Baroque spirit of the former country house grounds back to life again.

Not far from Vienna and yet in another world you can stroll around in total peace, while away the hours, spend a holiday or simply enjoy the stunning setting over a coffee on the Am Schlossgarten restaurant’s terrace.

The Schloss Thalheim gardens
The country house garden’s axis on the south side gives you a view over the majestic Ötscher mountain and within the gently sloping country house grounds you will find.

Several Baroque gardens
The theatre garden with open-air stage, e.g. for weddings, The rose garden with 18,000 roses

The fairy garden
And a traditional Zen garden at the foot of the tea house built into the hill. But that’s not all. Based on the historical model, plenty of space was also given to so-called domestic gardens at the Schloss Thalheim hotel too:

An orchard, herb beds and the vegetable garden supply day guests and holiday guests straight from the gardens. The country house hotel’s own beehives also supply the finest honey.

Gardens for any occasion
What is special about the Schloss Thalheim hotel and the surrounding park and gardens is their harmony. The aim here was to find a balance between the tradition and spirit of the time but also between visual aesthetics and practical use – and they certainly succeeded.

Speaking of which: another feature in our gardens are the “boulders” – ancient rocks that found their place in the Schloss Thalheim park many moons ago. Overall, the result is a unique place of harmony, tranquillity and relaxation that leaves nothing to be desired in terms of dining too.

Parts of the garden can of course also be used for parties and celebrations. The theatre garden in particular with its open-air stage is ideal for your wedding ceremony as a result of its superb acoustics and location – all outdoors too.

The number of lovely garden details and passages also offer unique photo opportunities.

Recreation around Schloss THALHEIM
Recreation is a valuable but unfortunately often scarce commodity nowadays. You therefore deserve all the more for your free time to totally suit your taste and to be able to do exactly what you most enjoy.

As a guest at Schloss THALHEIM hotel you don’t have to worry at all as far as your recreational programme is concerned.

Situated in the geographical centre of Lower Austria in the heart of the Mostviertel region as well as close to the Danube and Wachau region there are more than enough leisure activities for your recreation during your stay as a guest at our hotel.

Regardless of whether you want to devote yourself to your preferred sport, are looking forward to long cycling tours or hikes surrounded by nature or are interested in the region’s extensive culture on offer and its culinary merits – the range of possible leisure activities starts just behind the Schloss THALHEIM gardens or can be reached by car within a comfortable driving distance.

As a result it is guaranteed that there is nothing standing in the way of whichever recreational activity you choose, whenever you spend time as a guest at the Schloss THALHEIM hotel.

A golf holiday and luxury hotel
Every region and landscape has its merits and unique attractions. And golfers really appreciate this – particularly in the area surrounding Vienna and St. Pölten. Golf is one of those sports that has an intensive relationship with the surrounding nature and associated conditions.

This area of Lower Austria’s Mostviertel region close to the Danube is dominated by picturesque hills, hilltops covered with forests, lush fields and pastures and overall a vast expanse of scenery.

It is therefore perfect for unpacking your golf clubs and getting to know the region’s most stunning golf courses “swing by swing” during your holiday at Schloss THALHEIM.

Or the other way round: finish a day at the golf club of your choice with a gourmet dinner at Schloss THALHEIM and stay a little longer for a holiday at our hotel.

Horse riding around Schloss THALHEIM
This combination is actually quite obvious, it does have historical links in fact. You enjoy a luxury holiday in an highly exclusive ensemble of buildings at the Schloss THALHEIM hotel and explore the Mostviertel region’s stunning landscape near the Danube on horseback: a truly regal experience!

For anyone who loves horse riding in their free time or is maybe even at home with equestrian sports, Schloss THALHEIM and its surrounding area offer the best conditions for a stay with everything you want: long excursions on horseback surrounded by tranquil nature and a first-class relaxing holiday.

A luxury hotel with tennis clubs nearby
The open vast hilly landscape of the Mostviertel region near the Danube already looks perfect for a relaxing holiday at first glance.

Anyone who wants to complement their stay at the Schloss THALHEIM hotel with a sophisticated game of tennis, will immediately notice that the features of the landscape might just possess the perfect conditions for quite a few tennis clubs – and they truly do.

Not far from the capital of Vienna, the Lower Austrian regional capital of St. Pölten and the Schloss THALHEIM hotel you can find several idyllically situated tennis courts or clubs with well looked after clay courts.

Your tennis fun surrounded by the stunning nature of the alpine foothills is therefore literally on the doorstep of your luxury holiday at the Schloss THALHEIM hotel.

Or combine it with a relaxing time-out or weekend break at our luxury hotel therefore teaming up all the amenities of a first-class hotel with your favourite sporting activity and other recreational opportunities.

Wine from the Traisental valley: unique indulgence
Schloss THALHEIM is situated in the middle of one of the country’s best wine regions. Wine has been influencing the people, landscape and culture here for centuries. Seize this opportunity and set off on the trail of these unique cultivated plants during your stay at Schloss THALHEIM!

The wines created in the Traisental valley are described by experts as “aromatically complex with a fine, graceful structure and exceptional minerality” and are among the best wines in Austria.

Grüner Veltliner and Riesling from the Traisental valley
The two major specialities by winegrowers in the Traisental are the Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. The climatic conditions and soil properties in Lower Austria south of the Danube are perfect for them. Supplemented by the tradition and skills of the winegrowers the result here is top wines in demand all over the world!

Grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Weißburgunder, Rivaner, Zweigelt and Pinot Noir also thrive splendidly on the terraced vineyards in the Traisental valley and develop a very special flavour here.

Visit one of the many winegrowers in the Traisental valley
The winegrowers in the Traisental valley look forward to you visiting them and are happy to give you an insight into their work. Enjoy the magical nature, stunning vineyards and taste the fantastic wines where they actually grew.

We at Schloss THALHEIM will be happy to personally provide you with information about the numerous options in the region and the current or seasonal offers from winegrowers in the surrounding area.

Combine a visit to a wine estate or Heuriger tavern with a hike in the Mostviertel region or with a bike tour and be captivated by the scenery.

Exclusive wine cellar at Schloss THALHEIM
Proper revitalisation is particularly important after a challenging game of tennis or a round of golf. Alongside other fine drops of wine, we mainly offer you select top wines from the Traisental valley and the hotel’s immediate surrounding area.

The quality of the regional products is breathtaking and our guests are always impressed by Austrian wine. Send us your no-obligation enquiry or book your room in comfort online and see how exclusive the wine cellar at Schloss THALHEIM is for yourself. We look forward to your visit!

Your luxury historical hotel with lots of cycling opportunities
During the Baroque era white donkeys were kept as status symbols in many royal and aristocratic castle and country house parks. Today, the animals have long given way to an indispensable leisure accessory for many people: “the two wheeled steed”.

Naturally, we are more than happy for you to bring your bike, road bike, trekking or mountain bike with you as a guest at the Schloss THALHEIM hotel to explore the immediate and wider surroundings of the Mostviertel region close to the Danube with its gently sloping hills and charming scenery near Vienna and the Wachau region.

The beautiful cycle routes, including stages of the Danube cycle path of course, are guaranteed to enrich your holiday in Thalheim.

Danube cycle path, stage 6 – North bank:Krems-Tulln
Coming from Schloss THALHEIM you start in nearby Krems on the Danube, a beautiful wine, trade, shopping, cultural, school and university town that is part of the Wachau UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On the way to your interim goal in Tulln you can take a detour by bike into the Kremstal valley or you can reach the Wagram region by continually cycling along the Danube.

Vineyards nestled into each other, undulating fields, shady narrow passages and deep loess soils that provide the best conditions for mellow, full-bodied wines characterise this region – Grüner and Roter Veltliner are the keywords here. 50 top winegrowers are represented with more than 250 wines at the Vinothek Weritas in Kirchberg am Wagram.

At the end of the day, Tulln is also home to Europe’s unique ecological “Gartenerlebniswelt” with more than 60 show gardens and other attractions. Additionally, numerous cultural sites and the Egon Schiele themed trail honour the life and work of this town’s most famous son.

Hiking and strolling in the Mostviertel region around Thalheim
Close to urban life and yet surrounded by pure nature – the Schloss THALHEIM hotel has a premium spot in the heart of Lower Austria. As a result it’s not just worth taking up residence here as a guest for a relaxing holiday.

But a short weekend break or a sunny afternoon day trip coming from Vienna or St. Pölten is also more than worth it – especially if you like hiking or are looking for other outdoor recreational activities.

As the Mostviertel region’s lovely surrounding scenery is just as enchanting as the romantic Baroque and country house gardens in the park at Schloss THALHEIM, where you can enjoy a wonderful stroll in between coffee and cake at our Am Schlossgarten restaurant. So come and enjoy and indulge!

Kapelln circular hiking trail
You could say this easy hike is Schloss THALHEIM’s local circuit as it leads around the municipality of Kapelln. Just outside the park gate at the edge of the forest you can make your way to Pönning along the Rapoltenbach stream as far as Rapoltendorf.

A tarmacked path leads up the so-called “Stierschweif” and past the “Andreas Friedenswarte” towards Rassing. Along the left bank of the Perschling river you follow a meadow path as far as Kapelln sports centre and then continue on to Kapelln church square.

You now head along the Petronilla stream to Etzersdorf and after crossing the road towards Gutenbrunner Forest where you also cross the Way of St. James. Once you reach Killing you then follow the Perschling river upstream as far as Katzenberg with the region’s oldest church.

After crossing the main road a path leads up to a meadow in Rassing. The route then continues to Obermiesting as far as the village road from where you can then get back to the Schloss THALHEIM hotel again over a meadow path.

Richard the Lionheart is said to have been the first true guest of note in Dürnstein. What this illustrious English King enjoyed eight centuries ago – albeit, in his case, somewhat involuntarily – awaits you in an almost unchanged state: namely, one of the most beautiful, pristine river landscapes in Europe, tucked into the green hills of the Waldviertel (“forest district”) and the Dunkelsteinerwald (“dark stone forest”).

Here, in the soul of the Wachau, where the mild and sunny climate bestows its blessings not just on the vineyard grapes, the Thiery family extends a royal welcome to their guests.

The hotel radiates the unique atmosphere of a former convent of the Clares, right on the banks of the Danube. In the Restaurant Löwenherz you will be pampered with culinary delights and a fine selection of wines.

The hotel has done justice to its royal name ever since – as Hotel Richard the Lionheart, where each and every guest is treated royally.

The history of our house
In 1289, the powerful Leuthold I of Kuenring donated the Hager house and the Schenking farmstead to the Convent of the Clares, which he himself had founded. In 1340, the Gothic church with its two naves had been finished.

Donations by the princes, the Kuenringers, and the families of the nuns further strengthened the foundation, however, the Reformation and war taxes bore so heavily that the convent had to be dissolved in 1571.

The entire property went to the monastery of the Order of St. Augustine, which was completely reconstructed by Provost Hieronymus Übelbacher. He wanted to adapt it to the architectural standards of his period and thus, much of the original construction was lost.

The spacious cellar in front of the “Kremser Tor” gate was enlarged, the sacred adornments of the Church of the Clares were removed, the ridge turret and the high church roof were torn down, and the Gothic windows were walled up.

Thus, the originally Gothic structure with its two naves was turned into a silo. Provost Hieronymus financed all of these reconstructions by means of trading with wine and crops. The Clares’ cloister was also torn down and the rooms of the convent started to be used for economic purposes.

The Augustinian monastery was dissolved in 1798 and the buildings went to the monastery of Herzogenburg. In 1820, the Convent of the Clares fell into private hands.

Since 1880, the Thiery family has owned its spacious rooms and turned the former mariners’ tavern into an exquisite hotel of international reputation, named after the English King Richard the Lionheart, who had been imprisoned in Dürnstein from 1192 to 1193.

In 1938, the Starhembergsche Schloß in the west was added to the main building, which, like the rooms of the old house, combines state-of-the-art amenities and wonderful views with restful tranquility.

Rooms & suites in Dürnstein
With its unique location on the very banks of the Danube river, our charming hotel is the perfect venue choice for those who appreciate individual and special service. No matter which room you choose, it will invite you to relax and enjoy the quiet atmosphere.

Convent garden with pool
Protected between ivy-covered city walls and a former Gothic church, the paradise-like monastery garden allows complete relaxation. In a picturesque location, it invites our hotel guests to relax and enjoy the swimming pool. Leave the hustle and bustle of everyday life behind to recharge your batteries!

UNWIND AND RELAX

The large convent garden is the heart of the hotel. Well-manicured sunbathing areas and luscious greenery as well as a remarkable variety of flowers and plants invite you, our guest, to linger and daydream.

The outdoor pool, beautifully nestled against the edge of the convent walls, provides a refreshing way to cool off on warm summer days. Or you can take a break in the shade of a giant linden tree with an unobstructed view of the Danube.

Peace & quiet
Those seeking relaxation will find a one-of-a-kind retreat here as well as peace and quiet away from the noise and hectic pace of everyday life. Unwind with a glass of local wine, take a stroll through the convent garden, or enjoy the fairy-tale atmosphere and historic ambiance while reading a book.

Our restaurant
Enjoy memorable gustatory experiences in our cozy rooms and on the terrace! Our award-winning catering team will spoil you with both traditional and innovative delicacies. You can enjoy these special treats either in our elegant dining rooms or, if the weather permits it, on our terrace with breathtaking view over the Danube.

Sitting under chestnut trees, you will dine overlooking passing boats, the baroque tower of the monastery, and the ruins of the castle in Dürnstein. We will spoil you with culinary delicacies and a selection of excellent wines from the Wachau and other Austrian vineyards.

Group offers
Delicious, creative cuisine …
The unique flair of our terrace overlooking the Danube and the romantic atmosphere of our historic banquet rooms make our restaurant in the Wachau something special and invite you to stay.

If you appreciate excellent cuisine and friendly service, you should not miss the opportunity to enjoy your well-deserved lunch break or top off a day trip through the region of the Wachau at our hotel. We want our guests to feel completely at home…

For a group of 12 persons, we offer a smaller menu and for a group of at least 20 persons, please choose a menu from our group menu suggestions. Changed opening hours for groups on request. We are happy to reserve a place in the sun or in our historical restaurant.

CELEBRATE IN DÜRNSTEIN

Celebrate weddings and anniversaries in the Wachau. Choose the romantic environment and a stylish atmosphere for your festivities.

Celebrate your very special event – be it weddings or any other festive occasions – in our historic banquet rooms or on our atmospheric terrace overlooking the Danube and the entire panorama of the Dunkelsteinerwald.

Enjoy an aperitif in our idyllic convent garden or by the open fire in our hotel lobby before indulging in the culinary delights of our renowned catering team. The Hotel Richard Löwenherz is the perfect location for your event! In the Wachau we will make your event a unique experience!

Our cuisine
The most popular dishes among our guests are the classics of traditional Austrian cuisine including both beef tenderloin and fried trout. The best ingredients and exceptional cooking skills guarantee the finest culinary enjoyment.

FRIED TROUT

Our trout, which our head chef prepares into a mouth-watering dish, come from Austria’s oldest fishery in Traismauer.

Simple is better: according to this motto, our head chef prepares the fried trout, which is seasoned with salt, dredged in flour, fried à la meunière, and kept warm in the oven to seal in the juices. This is all it takes for pure culinary bliss.

Cakes and pies
For all those with a sweet tooth, our pastry chef prepares treats such as apple strudel, apricot cake, and almond torte according to traditional Austrian recipes. As a special treat, the small cookies that you can enjoy with coffee are homemade!

Our breakfast
Awaiting you for an enjoyable start to the day is our lavish breakfast offer with regional delicacies such as our homemade apricot jam and the “Wachauer Laberl” from Bäckerei Schmidl in Dürnstein.

Look forward to a new day in Dürnstein while enjoying the aroma of fresh coffee and the lavish breakfast offer as you gaze out on the Danube as it flows past. Everything your heart desires and a little extra are awaiting you on our mouth-watering breakfast offer.

No matter whether you prefer a sweet breakfast with homemade pastries or a savory breakfast with freshly prepared eggs, salmon, and ham, let yourself be inspired by our delicious breakfast offer and start your day in a good mood with plenty of energy.

Seminars & meetings
Looking for a quiet environment in the countryside, a stylish ambiance, and an uncomplicated setting for your conference? With a quiet and central location, our hotel – not far from Vienna – provides the best conditions for the organization of meetings and seminars in the Wachau.

At Hotel Richard Löwenherz, where comfort and well-being are associated with tradition, every meeting will be a success! Enjoy the unique atmosphere of a former convent in the heart of the Cultural World Heritage Site of Wachau.

At the open fire place, in the rose garden with a view overlooking the Danube, or in the historic dining rooms – unique moments on special days! We would be glad to make you a personal offer for your event!

Wachau experience
The most famous part of the Danube Valley between Melk and Krems offers a wide range of leisure and sports facilities. In summer, the Danube with its cozy beaches and a very good water quality invites you to cool off.

Excursions in the Wachau
The Wachau presents itself as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its imposing monasteries, castles, and ruins and is a paradise on the river. The prestigious travel magazine “National Geographic Traveller” ranked Wachau first in its last rating of 110 historic places worldwide!

DÜRNSTEIN MONASTERY

The former monastery of the order of St. Augustine “Augustiner Chorherrenstift” perches on a picturesque rock overlooking the Danube. The monastery owes its Baroque structures and elements to Provost Hieronymus Übelbacher.

The reconstruction work he initiated resulted in the beautifully ornamented church, which will also delight its visitors with its famous blue tower. A Baroque cloister is annexed to the church with art-historical treasures and a crypt.

THE BENEDICTINE ABBEY OF MELK

The Melk Abbey is one of the most important baroque buildings in Austria. Must-sees include the imperial staircase, the modern monastery museum in the former imperial rooms, the marble hall, and the abbey library with frescoes by Paul Troger.

The altars with views of the Danube, the world-famous collegiate church, and the Abbey Park with the baroque garden pavilion are particularly noteworthy and true gems in the Melk Abbey.

Göttweig Abbey
The Baroque Abbey of Goettweig is situated on a mountain in the far east of the Wachau, south of Krems. Goettweig offers many interesting sights to see: the museum in the emperor’s apartments with annual exhibitions of the monastery’s art collections, the emperor’s staircase with the stunning ceiling frescos by local painter Paul Troger, the opulently ornamented apartments of the emperor and the princes, and the church with its crypt and its cloister.

Castle ruins of Aggstein
Aggstein certainly deserves its reputation as one of the most famous castles in Austria. Perched high above the Danube with a breathtaking view of the World Cultural Heritage region of Wachau, this legendary castle is certainly worth a visit – not only for children.

There are several viewing points that help your eyes transcend almost all the castle’s walls. Another attraction that visitors should certainly not miss is the Exhibition on the Nibelungen, which is set in the vaults of the castle’s cellar and offers, among others, lovely hand-carved figurines and pictures depicting fairy tale scenes.

Herzogenburg Monastery
This monastery, which is close to Krems, hosts one of the most significant art collections in Lower Austria. The emphasis of this collection lies mainly on the Gothic works of the School of the Danube, the panel paintings, sculptures, and stained glass windows.

Wandering through the banquet room, the treasury, the library, the coin collection, and the Baroque paintings hall, the visitor will get a good impression of the artistic and cultural significance of this convent.

Castle of Schallaburg
The Castle of Schallaburg, which lies 5 kilometres north of Melk, is probably the most beautiful Renaissance castle north of the Alps.

Visitors will be impressed by the two-story arcades ornamented with terra-cotta, the Romanesque part of the castle, the Gothic chapel, and the stunning gardens. The annually varying art-historical and archaeological exhibitions in a historic setting also attract plenty of visitors.

Museums & exhibitions
Kunstmeile & Landesgalerie, Krems
Not far from Dürnstein, only 7 kilometers away in Krems, the Kunstmeile Krems and the Niederösterreichische Landesgalerie (state gallery) promise a variety of art enjoyment.

The Kunstmeile Krems offers a wide and sophisticated cultural program with a multitude of museums, galleries, as well as art and music festivals. On a stretch of only one mile (1.6 km), you have the opportunity to experience a variety of contemporary art forms in a historic setting at the gateway to the Wachau.

Kittenberger Discovery Gardens, Schiltern
The initial idea of these gardens was to visualize different concepts of landscaping; the result was an amazing blend of special theme gardens.

Set among the rolling hills south of the Waldviertel region and only few kilometres from Krems and Langenlois, the Discovery Gardens are the perfect venue for garden and nature lovers, who will find plenty of ideas and concepts for their own gardens. Additionally, the children will have fun in the children’s nature world.

Here children and adolescents can be themselves again and at the same time learn to be creative and live in close touch with nature, especially by building castles in a “SANDGATSCHMULDE”, climbing in our rock garden, playing in our bush and field house, balancing on a tree trunk, observing the “insect hotel”, and much more.

Cruise ship museum, Spitz
Spitz used to play an important role in navigation on the Danube, which is shown impressively in the Navigation Museum. The museum, set in the baroque Erlahof, displays a comprehensive collection on the navigation on the Danube both by rowing boats and by rafts.

Ship cruises
Discover one of the most beautiful stretches of the Danube – the Wachau – aboard a cruise ship. Take your time and enjoy the sights that are slowly passing by on the banks of the Danube. Cruise ships start in Dürnstein at the stop “Donaustation” no. 20 directly beneath the monastery – just a few-minutes-walk away from the hotel.

The Wachau and wine
The Wachau looks back on a long history of wine-growing. The steeply terraced vineyards, where world-renowned vintage wines grow, dominate the impression of the visitor in the Danube valley.

Wachaua wines benefit from ideal natural conditions such as the moderate climate and the temperature-regulating effects of the Danube.

“VINEA WACHAU”

The “Vinea Wachau” – an association of vineyards in the Wachau created three categories of white wine in order to emphasize the unique quality of these wines:

• Steinfeder – light, aromatic
• Federspiel – elegant, full
• Smaragd – mature, rich
• Weingärten in Dürnstein

The most widely grown wine grapes are the Green Veltliner and the Riesling. The Wachau, however, has many more excellent white and red grapes to offer. Wines can be tasted in restaurants and traditional inns, during special wine festivals, or directly at the winegrower’s estates.

Therefore, we additionally recommend the wine growers of the “Vinea Wachau”, the organic vineyard of Nikolaihof Saahs in Mautern. This wine tavern in the Wachau is the perfect place to try wines.

The Vinea Wachau offers the app myWachau, which informes you about the opening hours of the wineries, restaurants, and wine taverns. If offers additional information about the vinyards and the soil profile.

Wine tasting
Domäne Wachau
In the winery “Domäne Wachau”, guided tours of the cellar including a guided wine tasting takes place on Saturdays at 2 p.m. Visitors will be guided through the baroque vault and the renowned “wine cellar castle”.

In addition to information on the history of the Wachau and of winegrowing, the tour includes tastes of six classic wines.

Loisium
In the “Cellar World“ at Langenlois, visitors will be drawn into a mystical world of sensual experience as they can taste, smell, feel, see, and even hear wine.

Sandgrube 13 Wein.Sinn
Experience wine and all its different facets and find out more about its production, its history, its culture – and especially its taste! “SANDGRUBE 13 Wein.Sinn” – a sensual journey through the world of wine.

Cycling in the Wachau
This is an excursion in a phenomenal world that almost seems surreal. There are the shores of the majestic Danube, gentle mountains, forests, old castle ruins, and Baroque fairy-tale palaces. Here at Hotel Richard Löwenherz, we are the perfect starting point for unforgettable moments on 2 wheels!

Bike tours in the Wachau
Orchard bike tour (ca. 2 hrs.)
You will cross the Danube on a ferry. From Rossatz, you will reach Arnsdorf by heading upstream through orchards and vineyards. Here, the ferry will take you back to Spitz. The path leads back along quiet village roads and towpaths to Dürnstein.

Weinstein tour – the MTB route in the Wachau
“Stone and wine”: this one-of-a-kind mountain bike tour leads among the Wachau vineyards, over the peaks of the surroundings mountains, and through the forests of the southern Waldviertel. On this tour, you can enjoy the diversity of the unique landscape of the Wachau and Waldviertel.

Hiking in the Wachau
Look forward to an active holiday in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Wachau! Here you can expect adventurous hiking tours to old castles and ruins, gourmet trails to the vineyards, and fine rest stops in beautiful nature between the Dunkelsteinerwald and the picturesque banks of the Danube!

A river valley right out of a storybook, vines that sway in the wind, the magic of the blossoming apricot trees, romantic forests, and ancient treasures that make the history of the Wachau come alive. All these facets create a hiking paradise that offers the perfect hiking route for every age and to suit every taste.

Hotel Richard Löwenherz is located in the middle of a UNESCO world heritage site and offers ideal access to the large network of hiking trails in the Wachau. Would you like to head out towards the towns of Melk or Krems?

No problem: boat and train transportation are wonderfully connected so that you can easily reach many sites and attractions and the start of your hiking trail!

Wachau World Heritage Trail
Hiking in the Wachau: experience the Wachau World Heritage Trail with a length of 180 km and hike past 14 stations on the trail of the rich history and exciting present of the Wachau.

On the most beautiful hiking trails and historic paths, the long-distance trail connects the 13 communities of the UNESCO world heritage site of the Wachau.

The high-altitude trail leads to unforgettable viewing points and will take you to 20 fortresses, ruins, and castles, the Wachau wine region with its stone terraces and spectacular vineyards and the Kremstal, 3 monasteries, as well as the Jauerling (a nature park with the highest mountain on the Danube – 960 m).

The long-distance trail is divided into 14 stages and can be hiked in both directions. The Jauerling Loop with 3 ferry connections lends itself to variation and can be tailored to individual tastes for a special hiking experience. A Wachau hiking map is available at the reception desk.

Viewing points in the Wachau
Excursion destinations in the Wachau with a panoramic view: enjoy breathtaking views of the Danube Valley and far-reaching views of the region! The numerous observation towers on hills in the Wachau and hiking paths in the surroundings are the perfect opportunity to discover the landscape during your holiday in the Wachau.

Tour tips
Vogelberg-Trail (approx. 2,5 hours)
The Vogelberg-Trail is one of the most beautiful uphill trails in the Wachau and offers amazing views over Dürnstein and the Danube. It leads through the Talgraben valley and passes by the mountain hut “Fesslhütte” and the ruins of the castle before taking you back to Dürnstein.

Panorama-Trail Achleiten (approx. 3 hours)
The Panorama-Trail will take you from Weißenkirchen through the well-known marshland of Achleiten-Klaus, the hamlet of Schildhütten, and back to Weißenkirchen. Winegrowers’ huts and the typically Austrian religious niches called ‘Marterl’ are representatives of local folklore. The Panorama Trail offers an impressive view of the Danube valley.

Seekopf-Hirschwand (approx. 4 hours)
This path starts out in St. Lorenz and leads uphill unto the ‘Hirschwand’ in several winding loops. Walking on, you will reach the ‘Seekopf’, which offers a breathtaking view over the entire region. Follow the path towards the Danube and you will return to St. Lorenz.

Panorama Trail Rossatz (ca. 3 hrs.)
This easy, leisurely hike begins in the parking area of the Rossatzbach landing stage on the B33. From here, it leads along the edge of the forest to Rührsdorf, where the Winzerstüberl invites you to enjoy refreshments. You can then follow the trail through Rührsdorf and the Danube wetlands back to the parking area.

Golf holidays in the Wachau
Located in the scenic surroundings of the forest and wine district or in front of the impressive backdrop of Lower Austrian castles, the golf courses in the near and far surroundings invite you to spend a day on the green.

In a magnificent position in the Wachau, the gorge which is the most picturesque section of the Danube, where Nature and Art combine in perfect harmony, stands Dürnstein Castle, amidst the World Heritage Site.

Built in Renaissance style, it was for centuries the property of the Princes Starhemberg. In recent centuries the present owners have converted it into a hotel of great style catering for even the most fastidious guest.

The Wachau enjoys a mild, dry climate, which means not only that Austria’s most renowned white wines grow here, but also that the restaurant terrace is a perfect place for just sitting and enjoying – indeed, it has deservedly acquired the reputation of being the most beautiful terrace on the whole length of the Danube.

The fine cuisine of head chef Hans Zusser and the splendidly stocked cellar have made in this castle hotel a meeting-place for gourmets.

History of the castle
ZELKINGER

The “New Castle” was built from 1622 to 1630 by Christoph Wilhelm from the art-loving family of the barons of Zelking at the place where the Maissauer Hof and houses of wine-makers used to stand.

The architect was probably Cipriano Biasino based in Krems, who also built the Krems parish church. By marriage, the property fell into the hands of Heinrich von Zinzendorf and Pottendorf in 1634.

ZINZENDORFER

The counts of Zinzendorf and Pottendorf were an ancient Lower Austrian noble family, which, like most of the nobility in Lower Austria, converted to Protestantism. In the course of the Counter-Reformation a lot these families left their old homeland and also the Zinzendorfs found a new home in Dresden.

A grandson, Nikolaus Ludwig, became the founder of the “Herrenhuter Gesellschaft”, which still operates worldwide today. In 1663 they sold the castle to Conrad Balthasar, Count of Starhemberg.

STARHEMBERG

In contrast to the previous owners, the castle was not the residence of the Starhembergs, but was occasionally used only during visits to the winery and during hunts.

Outstanding event was the September 1683, when Emperor Leopold I, who lay with a small flotilla at Dürnstein and lived in the castle, received the news of the liberation of Vienna from the Turks. In 1937, Ernst Rüdiger von Starhemberg sold the castle to the Thiery family.

Family

The senior bosses Rosemarie and Johann Thiery have managed with much dedication and love to open the only 5 star hotel in Lower Austria from an old building in a desolate state. Although they have long been able to afford to enjoy life without work to its’ fullest, both are on duty daily and still look after the guests.

The grown-up children and managing directors Maria Katharina Thiery-Schroll and Johannes Christian Thiery grew up in the hotel and fell in love for their own business in the cradle.

Historical
WACHAU

The earliest historical mention of the place called “Wachova” occurred in 823 AD. “Wachova” originally referred to the town now known as Spitz, and by the 12th Century, “Tal Wachau” (Valley of Wachau) began to mean the region from the town of St. Michael to Watstein, a road bottleneck that lies west of Dürnstein.

The region we now know as Wachau, the Danube valley between the settlements of Melk and Krems, first began being used somewhat later on during the Era of Romanticism.

TOWN DÜRNSTEIN

The small town of Dürnstein was built along a narrow strip of land between a steep mountain and the Danube, serving as an important port for ships and regional stronghold throughout its history. In 1019, Emperor Henry II gave this strategic location to the Tegernsee Abbey.

The nearby municipality of Unterloiben had belonged to the abbey since 1002, while Oberloiben was under Salzburg’s control. After 1050, various towns in Lower Austria were heartily dedicated to growing, supporting, and defending themselves alongside Saxon ministerials from the Kuenring family.

Even nowadays, this era lives on through local sayings and history. The Kuenrings remained true to their foundations: the Cistercian Zwettl Abbey (1137) and the Dürnstein town charter originated with them.

On September 1, 1347, Dürnstein became designated as a city for the first time in an official Kuenring inheritance document. On April 26, 1476, Emperor Fredrick III gave Dürnstein its municipal coat of arms. The town’s 650-year anniversary was celebrated with great joy in 1997.

ABBEY DÜRNSTEIN

During conversion of the nunnery to the manor of the Chorherren-Stift in the Baroque period and the splendid reconstruction of the latter, the ensemble Dürnstein essentially got today’s famous look.

RUIN DÜRNSTIEN

Burgruine Dürnstein was originally built in 1130 by Hadmar I of Kuenring and was destroyed in 1645 during the Thirty Years’ War by Swedish forces; however, the castle was already uninhabitable for some time prior to being demolished. During 1192-1193, Richard I of England, also known as Richard the Lionheart, was imprisoned here.

Swimming Pool Areas
Our swimming pool areas are open daily for hotel guests between 7.00 and 20.00. Sauna, steam bath, infrared cabin and a fitness room are part of this spa area, which you can use as a hotel guest. Of course we provide towels free of charge. Quench your thirst with the provided soft drinks and tea from our tea bar!

DAY SPA

Occasionally it is possible to use our spa area, even if you are not a hotel guest. In this case, please contact our receptionist by phone!

€ 30,00 Day Spa entrance per person including towels, bathrobe, slippers, access to sauna, steam bath, infrared cabin and fitness room. Furthermore, you can choose from the minibar and enjoy tea from the tea bar.

Thai Yoga
Traditional Thai Yoga bodywork based on the Ayurvedic Medicine Energy:

Everything living is nourished and controlled by the life force (Prana). When this prana flows naturally and harmoniously, body, mind and feelings are in harmony.

The energy channels, which are embedded like streams and rivers in the landscape of the body, must be open and free. However, if the prana stagnates, the traditional Thai yoga bodywork practitioner can get it flowing again by stimulating and encouraging finger pressure.

The treatment takes place in comfortable clothing on a treatment mat. The therapist stretches, mobilizes and relaxes the entire body using body weight with fingers, palms, elbows, knees and feet.

AFTERNOON TEA

With our Afternoon Tea Arrangement, guests who do not spend the night in the hotel have the opportunity to use our beautiful terrace for coffee in the afternoon.

Between 14:00 and 15:00 you will enjoy: Our “Afternoon Tea Package” costs € 25,00 per person and includes sweet and salty snacks, as well as coffee/tea as you wish; also a glass of sparkling wine.

Winter Garden & Terrace

One of the most beautiful places along the Danube River. If you want to experience the beauty of the Wachau, our terrace is just the right place for you. Here, the Danube turns boldly into a curve and the view from above is the box seat for this magical spectacle.

Enjoy a delicious dinner on the Danube terrace, accompanied by the best wines of the region, let your day pass and tastefully end. Our newly built winter garden offers protection against rain and cold in the transitional period and provides shade in the hot summer weeks.

Wine Cellar and Wine Tastings

Between Thursday and Saturday we invite you to a wine tasting in our cellar at 6.15 pm. You will get an insight into the wine world of the region while tasting 6 wines. The price per person is € 28,00. Hotel Guests pay a special rate of € 20,00 only.

In addition, you are welcome to visit the cellar with the head waiter or sommelier and choose a bottle of your choice. Certainly you can buy all of the listed wines for your home.

Festivities

Our restaurant is open to hotel guests and other guests alike. There is no day off during the entire season, which runs from late March to late October . If you want to eat à la carte, this is possible up to a maximum of 10 guests.

If you are between 11 and 20 people, you can spontaneously enjoy a suggested menu from our cook. Otherwise, we ask you for timely reservation, so we can make you a menu proposal; In addition, we provide our premises for a private party or company dinner.

Grill Restaurant

Our second restaurant is a two-minute walk from Dürnstein Castle. You enter this beautiful garden area over a small wooden gate and then descend the stairs to the pond.

From here on you dive into the world of our grill tavern called “Küffer Keller”! Get to know and appreciate the garden landscape with its pond and lounge pavilion, as well as the wine cellar inside!

Lobby, Bar & Library

Not only are our house swallows are comfortable in the lobby as they spend their spare time here watching the reception area’s happenings, but also our guests as they devote their days to enjoying themselves in the lobby, bar, and library with time at their disposal.

A good glass of Wachau wine accompanying an animated discussion or a thrilling book, together with some lovely background music from our pianist, will help every ounce of your body thoroughly relax.

Villa Schönthal

In may 2016 we finished renovations at this beautiful house in Dürnstein, not far from the Hotel Schloss Dürnstein.

Book your private idyll amidst the village of Dürnstein – a rarely experienced privacy – without renouncing 5-star hotel comfort. The whole Villa will be yours for the time of your stay including a parking space nearby.

Küffer Keller

The Küffer Keller – our Grill Restaurant – is a beautiful garden oasis in Dürnstein not far from the Danube Path at the west entrance with stunning views of the Danube. The area covers three levels and is just perfect for a little break from everyday life.

Lounge pavilion, pond and lawn are just as part of the restaurant as the delightful little tables right next to it. If the weather does not permit sitting outside, enjoy the wine cellar with its open fireplace and its own wine shop.

The Küffer Keller is open between the end of April until the beginning of October from Thursday till Monday. In addition, you can rent this area exclusively for a private party.

Meetings & Conferences

Utmost discretion and professionalism while organizing and hosting meetings, seminars, presentations, and conferences are prioritized at Hotel Schloss Dürnstein. Our fully-adapted meeting room on the top floor seats up to 30 people comfortably. The room is also equipped with appropriate technology for your event.

Wachau – World Heritage

In the year 2000, the cultural landscape Wachau was added to the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage list together with the Abbeys Melk and Göttweig and the old town of Krems.

The Wachau is a river landscape with a length of slightly more than 30 km between Krems an der Donau and Melk and is the breakthrough valley of the Danube through the Bohemian Massif. It lays adjacent to the Austrian granite and gneiss highlands.

The highest elevations are the Jauerling (960 m) and Sandl (723 m). The Wachau lies on the border of two Lower Austrian regional landscapes, to the south the Mostviertel and to the north the Waldviertel. The Donauseitental and the Spitzer Graben also belong to the Wachau.

WINE

The Wachau wines are known worldwide for their excellent quality. The tradition of winegrowing has its’ early origins at the time of the Roman settlement of the Wachau and experienced a first heyday under the rule of the Carolingians.

In the Middle Ages, the Wachau wines were well known far beyond the borders of Austria. If you have an affinity with wine, the Wachau offers many opportunities to pursue your interests.

But not only the Wachau wines are worth a tasting; The nearby regions Kremstal, Kamptal and Traisental are also part of every wine tour in Lower Austria.

APRICOT

The Chinese already knew the apricot around 3000-2000 BC. The route of propagation in Western Europe may have been via Italy, Spain and France, while the Danube countries, according to recent research, received the apricot via the Pontus and the Donauweg.

The oldest evidence to date for the term apricot “Maryln” in the Danube region can be found in a letter collection from the Starhemberg Archives in Eferding near Linz (Letter of July 23, 1509).

In the capitulary of Charlemagne, who names all the fruits of culture at that time, there is no specific mention of the apricot, since it was counted as a peach from the 3rd until the 16th century. From the French “abricot” the name “Aprikose” spread to Western and Northern Germany, where it is still used today.

In southern Germany, Switzerland and Austria the name “Marille”, which probably stems from the Italian “armellino” established itself. This originated again from the Latin “armeniaca”, meaning originating from Armenia. From the terms “Amarellen”, “Morellen”the word “Marille” was formed.

HEURIGER

In Austria, the word “Heuriger” can be used to reference both a young wine or the locality where this wine is served. This “Heuriger” can both be a so-called “Buschenschank”, the seasonally limited serving of wine by its’ producers, or a restaurant operated as a “Heuriger” year-round.

The authorisation for winemakers to legally sell their own wines in their homes without an explicit license can be traced back to a law issued by Emperor Joseph II. in the year 1784. Historically, this tradition enabled winemakers to present their wines and federweisser each year to the local population.

KREMS

is the fifth largest city in Lower Austria with 23,947 inhabitants. The oldest town privileges date from 1305 and are a snapshot of the impressive development of the medieval town of Krems, from the first settlement to the princely city with special rights. Since then, the twin towns of Krems-Stein have been growing steadily, with trade and viticulture forming the basis for a dynamic development.

The farms, churches and town houses were built and designed by the best builders in the country, many artists and artisans moved to the prosperous Danube city since the Middle Ages.

Education was a key concern of the merchant community, they successfully sought to provide a solid education to their sons and daughters, and soon thereafter opened up access to university education.

Krems has remained a thriving economic, cultural, educational and university city in the 21st Century, and is further a European wine city in Kremstal at the gate to the Wachau.

Krems also enjoys international recognition in the area of monument preservation and revitalization, most recently with the inclusion of the old towns of Krems and Stein as part of the Wachau in the list of World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO.

MUSIC & THEATER

The nearby Grafenegg Castle hosts concerts all year round; a highlight is the music festival in summer, where some of the world’s best orchestras come to perform.

From the Baroque days in Melk, the opera festival in Gars, Shakespeare in the Rosenburg, operettas in Haindorf Castle, summer games in Melk , a series of cultural events will take place throughout the season. The proximity to Vienna makes it possible to visit the opera and the theater from Dürnstein.

EXHIBITIONS & MUSEUMS

The Schallaburg close to Melk is one of the most important exhibition venues in Austria. Every year a new area is presented, the topics reach from the “Treasures of Peru” to “Imperial China” to the “1. World War II”.

Krems offers a wide range of venues with the Weinstadtmuseum, the Gozzoburg, the Kunsthalle and the Cartoon Museum . Weissenkirchen houses the Wachaumuseum in the Teisenhoferhof and Spitz has a very interesting Maritime Museum .

A Roman museum is in Mautern (formerly Favianis – St. Severin) and in Artstetten near Maria Taferl in the castle of the murdered heir to the throne Franz Ferdinand the history of this Habsburg is depicted.

There is a Masonic order museum in Rosenau , a clock museum in Karlstein, a Sundial exhibition in Weiten and the “Heldenberg” – the Austrian “Walhalla” (grave of Field Marshal Count Radetzky).

The famous baroque monasteries Melk and Göttweig are located at the entrance and exit of the Wachau, the castle ruins Aggstein and Dürnstein are known in legend and history, the medieval old towns of Krems and Stein bear testimony to former wealth.

All in all the Dürnstein ensemble is the pearl of the Wachau. In the Waldviertel, the monasteries Zwettl, Altenburg, Geras and the magnificent Rosenburg await visitors.

CYCLING

The soothing flow of the Danube River, the scent of flowering fruit trees, birdsong coming down from the trees and you step forcefully on the pedals. It can be so wonderful. The Wachau decelerates and grounds you, and you will see how wonderfully relaxed you come back after a bike ride.

We provide our guests free mountain bikes , which you only have to call the reception for. In addition, we now have two e-bikes that you can rent for a half or full day for a fee. (€ 20,00 up to 4 h, € 30,00 over 4 h)

WATER

Experience the Wachau from a different angle. Travelling on the water opens new worlds. Especially the canoe and SUP boards are ideal ways to discover them.

Learn the fastest growing sport in the world, Stand Up Paddling SUP for short, in the middle of the Wachau cultural landscape, or enjoy the unique surroundings by canoe. The latest equipment and trained staff are waiting for you in the small Danube Bay in Oberloiben, just a few minutes walk from the hotel.

HIKING

Many hiking trails are just waiting to be accessed by you. Walk through the orchards on the south bank or climb one of the many viewpoints. Even experienced hikers will get all they wish for with the World Heritage route.

CLIMBING

For climbers, the climbing garden in Dürnstein is a good learning and practice area. At the east end of the village, after the city gate, an alley leads left into the trench.

In the first left turn (bank) a small path goes directly to the Däumling, which is the highest and perhaps most rewarding tower in the moat. In addition to the overhanging endurance climbing, there also are some wonderful, easier tours in the O wall.

GOLF

More than 40 golf clubs are available in Lower Austria alone, including five within less than 40 km of us. Most clubs in the region offer hotel guests special green fee reductions.

SEGWAY

In the middle of the Wachau, Segway-Wachau offers the enterprising guest a new forward-looking way of getting around.

BOAT RIDE

The ferry Dürnstein, as a company steeped in tradition has committed itself to the use of “Zillen” with historical paint. For the transfer over the Danube in Dürnstein, “Zillen” have been in use for centuries.

Today motorized Spiegelzillen are in operation for the ferry traffic and for touristic trips. Over the last few years, guests have come to appreciate a trip with the Zille more and more.

Currently, these can not only be used as means of transport, such as to a restaurant or wine tavern, but also to spend some nice hours floating on the river with snacks and wine directly on the Zille.