Schloss Artstetten

The Danube Valley


Built from the ruins of a 13th-century medieval castle and tinkered with for 700 years, Artstetten castle gained fame and glory after passing into the hands of the Habsburgs in the early 19th century, winding up in the possession of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Inside is a museum devoted to the luckless heir, displaying photos and stories of his and his Czech wife’s lives at the castle and their fateful trip to Sarajevo where his assassination kicked off WWI.

The pair were buried in the family tomb, the Familiengruft, quite a place of pilgrimage for Habsburg fans. The castle stands around 6km east of Maria Taferl and about the same distance away from the Danube.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby The Danube Valley attractions

2. Stift Melk

6.05 MILES

Of the many abbeys in Austria, Stift Melk is the most famous. Possibly Lower Austria's finest, the monastery church dominates the complex with its twin…

3. Schloss Schallaburg

8 MILES

This palace is famous not only for its stunning architecture but also for the innovative exhibitions it houses, along with its lovely gardens. A wonderful…

4. Burg Aggstein

11.22 MILES

A fabulously evocative castle ruin from the 12th-century, set high above the Danube. The views from the ramparts are worth the climb and various events…

5. Wachau Museum

16.32 MILES

Directly below the church, the tiny, pretty Wachau Museum showcases artists of the Danube School.

6. Weissenkirchen Parish Church

16.35 MILES

This 15th-century Gothic church sits on a hilltop overlooking the town; its front doors are approached along a labyrinth of covered pathways. Look out for…

7. Chorherrenstift

18 MILES

Of the picturesque 16th-century houses and other prominent buildings lining Dürnstein’s streets, the meticulously restored Chorherrenstift is the most…

8. Domäne Wachau

18.17 MILES

If you're intent on tasting the best of what the Wachau has to offer, it's a good idea to do a broad range of vineyards, from the innovative family-run…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "austria/the-danube-valley/attractions/schloss-artstetten/a/poi-sig/1336795/358632",
      "destination": "The-Danube-Valley",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "Austria",
      "region": "The-Danube-Valley",
      "position": "superzone"
    }