Aggstein Ruins

Dominating the scene, here at the narowest point in the Wachau, is the historic old castle of Aggstein, perched on a crag (300m/985ft) which falls steeply down on three sides. This was once the stronghold of the Kuenringer, a family of robber knights who plundered boats on the river and merchants' wagons passing along the road. The castle was destroyed in 1296, rebuilt by a later robber knight named Jörg Scheck vom Walde in 1429 and again devastated by the Turks a century later.