Photographs of
Austrian Castles and Manor Houses

Belvédère supérieur, Vienna, Austria

The Belvedere is a historic building complex consisting of two Baroque palaces (the Upper and Lower Belvedere), the Orangery, and the Palace Stables. It houses the Belvedere museum.

The buildings are set in a Baroque park landscape. The grounds are set on a gentle gradient and include decorative tiered fountains and cascades, Baroque sculptures, and majestic wrought iron gates. The Baroque palace complex was built as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy.

The Belvedere was built during a period of extensive construction in Vienna, the imperial capital and home to the ruling Habsburg dynasty. This period of prosperity followed Prince Eugene of Savoy's successful conclusion of a series of wars against the Ottoman Empire.

Marmorsaal, Belvédère supérieur, Vienna, Austria

The Belvedere is a historic building complex consisting of two Baroque palaces (the Upper and Lower Belvedere), the Orangery, and the Palace Stables. It houses the Belvedere museum.

The buildings are set in a Baroque park landscape. The grounds are set on a gentle gradient and include decorative tiered fountains and cascades, Baroque sculptures, and majestic wrought iron gates. The Baroque palace complex was built as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy.

The Belvedere was built during a period of extensive construction in Vienna, the imperial capital and home to the ruling Habsburg dynasty. This period of prosperity followed Prince Eugene of Savoy's successful conclusion of a series of wars against the Ottoman Empire.

Eggenberg (Schloss Eggenberg)

Graz, Austria

Eggenberg Palace is the most significant Baroque palace complex in Styria. In 2010, Schloss Eggenberg was recognized for its significance to cultural history in an expansion to the listing of the Graz Historic Old Town among UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites.

Fagaras Castle, Fagaras, Brazov County, Romania

In 1696, following penetration of the Austrian army in Transylvania, Fagaras Castle (or Fagaras Fortress) became Crown property of the Habsburgs.

Fagaras Castle

Fagaras, Brazov County, Romania

In 1696, following penetration of the Austrian army in Transylvania, Fagaras Castle (or Fagaras Fortress) became Crown property of the Habsburgs.

Burg Hochosterwitz, near Sankt Georgen am Längsee, east of the town of Sankt Veit an der Glan in the state of Carinthia, Austria

Hochosterwitz Castle is considered to be one of Austria's most impressive medieval castles.

There are 14 defensive gates, each equipped with different methods of guarding the path. Local legend maintains that the castle has never been conquered and that none of the attacks managed to get beyond the fourth gate.

Burg Hochosterwitz

near Sankt Georgen am Längsee, east of the town of Sankt Veit an der Glan in the state of Carinthia, Austria

Hochosterwitz Castle is considered to be one of Austria's most impressive medieval castles.

There are 14 defensive gates, each equipped with different methods of guarding the path. Local legend maintains that the castle has never been conquered and that none of the attacks managed to get beyond the fourth gate.

Schloss Hof (Hof Palace)

Engelhartstetten (east of Vienna), Lower Austria.

Schloss Hof near the border of Slovakia. It once belonged to Prince Eugene of Savoy who purchased it in 1726, He had it enlarged in the Baroque style in 1729, and used it as an elaborate hunting lodge. He left it to a niece in his will, and it was later purchased by Empress Maria Theresa of Austria and became part of the imperial estates.

Burg Hohenwerfen (Hohenwerfen Castle)

above the town of Werfen, Salzach Valley, Austria

The castle is surrounded by the Berchtesgaden Alps. The fortification is a "sister" of Hohensalzburg Castle, both dating from the 11th century. A fortification was built here between 1075 and 1078 (during the Imperial Investiture Controversy) by Archbishop Gebhard of Salzburg as a strategic bulwark. He had three major castles extended to secure his archbishopric against the forces of King Henry IV. Gebhard was expelled in 1077 and could not return to Salzburg until 1086, only to die at Hohenwerfen two years later. In the following centuries Hohenwerfen served Salzburg's rulers, the prince-archbishops, as a military base, residence and hunting retreat. The fortress was extended in the 12th century and again in the 16th century during the German Peasants' War. Later it was used as a state prison and like many ecclesiastical prisons developed a particularly sinister reputation.

Hohenwerfen Castle served as the backdrop for the song "Do-Re-Mi" in the film The Sound of Music and as 'Schloss Adler' in the 1968 film Where Eagles Dare. Among the attractions offered by the fortress today are guided tours showing its weapons collection, a falconry museum and a fortress tavern.

Burg Hohenwerfen (Hohenwerfen Castle)

above the town of Werfen, Salzach Valley, Austria

The castle is surrounded by the Berchtesgaden Alps. The fortification is a "sister" of Hohensalzburg Castle, both dating from the 11th century. A fortification was built here between 1075 and 1078 (during the Imperial Investiture Controversy) by Archbishop Gebhard of Salzburg as a strategic bulwark. He had three major castles extended to secure his archbishopric against the forces of King Henry IV. Gebhard was expelled in 1077 and could not return to Salzburg until 1086, only to die at Hohenwerfen two years later. In the following centuries Hohenwerfen served Salzburg's rulers, the prince-archbishops, as a military base, residence and hunting retreat. The fortress was extended in the 12th century and again in the 16th century during the German Peasants' War. Later it was used as a state prison and like many ecclesiastical prisons developed a particularly sinister reputation.

Hohenwerfen Castle served as the backdrop for the song "Do-Re-Mi" in the film The Sound of Music and as 'Schloss Adler' in the 1968 film Where Eagles Dare. Among the attractions offered by the fortress today are guided tours showing its weapons collection, a falconry museum and a fortress tavern.

Hohenwerfen Castle

above the Salzach Valley

Austria

Burg Kreuzenstein (Kreuzenstein castle)

2100 Leobendorf bei Korneuburg

near Leobendorf

Austria

Burg Kreuzenstein (Kreuzenstein castle)

2100 Leobendorf bei Korneuburg

near Leobendorf

Austria

Schloß Naudersberg (Naudersberg Castle)

Nauders

Tirol

Austria

Niederfalkenstein (Falkenstein Castle)

Pfaffenberg 19

9821 Obervellach

Carinthia

Austria

Niederfalkenstein (Falkenstein Castle)

Pfaffenberg 19, 9821 Obervellach, Carinthia, Austria.

Niederfalkenstein is a castle complex near on the southern slope of the Hohe Tauern mountain range.

The fortification was first mentioned as Valchenstain Castle in a deed of 1164. The former fortification of Oberfalkenstein is a ruin, while the lower barbican of Niederfalkenstein is preserved. Niederfalkenstein is situated at an altitude of 843 meters..

Schloss Schönbühel (Schoenbuhel Castle)

Schönbühel-Aggsbach

below Melk on the right bank of the Danube

Austria

Schönbrunn Palace

Vienna, Austria

Schönbrunn Palace (or Schloss Schönbrunn) is a former imperial 1,441-room Rococo summer residence.

One of the most important cultural monuments in the country, it is one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna.

The palace and gardens reflect the tastes, interests, and aspirations of successive Habsburg monarchs.