Schloss Weitra

High up in the north-west of the Waldviertel, close to the border with Bohemia, sits the Renaissance castle of Weitra. In all its splendor, it attracts everyone's attention at the highest point of Austria's oldest brewing town. Whether through 800 years of history, the ancient art of brewing or a colorful program of events: here in the border region you can enjoy boundless diversity.

Officialdom meets high nobility

Weitra Castle is home to thousands of years of history. Between 1201 and 1208, Hadmar II von Kuenring, son of the leading ministerial family of the Waldviertel at the time, had the castle town built. In the so-called "Districtus Witrensis", the town held the central military, administrative, judicial and ecclesiastical functions and served as a market town and place of refuge in times of war. As a result, Weitra developed into one of the largest and richest towns in the entire Waldviertel region at the time. In 1581, Habsburg Emperor Rudolf II transfers the town and lordship to Baron Wolf Rumpf von Wielroß - the castle is rebuilt according to the plans of the imperial architect Pietro Ferrabosco. Ferrabosco, who also built the Stallburg in Vienna, transforms the old walls into a magnificent Renaissance palace. After Rumpf's death, the castle passed to the Counts of Fürstenberg and has been owned by this family ever since.

Baroque meets Renaissance

Fires and wars have taken their toll on the castle - the magnificent landmark of Weitra has only had its present form since the 18th century. The castle is a mighty quadrangular building with a tower towering over its northern long side. Four baroque gables and the austere three-storey arcades enliven the large inner courtyard with its Renaissance fountain.The arcade pillars are decorated with lion heads, shells and stylized swords - symbols of Santiago de Compostela: Wolf Rumpf von Wiehlroß was Grand Master of the knightly order of the same name.

Contemporary history meets (brewing) art

The castle museum takes you on a journey through the eventful history of the Kuenringer and Fürstenberger families with exhibits and works of art. At the same time, you can gain an insight into Waldviertel craftsmanship, the regional economic history and stately and bourgeois living. Climbing the tower offers an impressive view of Weitra with its medieval town wall and far beyond the borders of the region. In keeping with this, the Democracy Forum spans a historical arc to the former border region with the permanent exhibition "Iron Curtain Scene".

The Beer Museum in the castle cellar offers lighter and particularly digestible fare - with a journey through centuries of brewing culture. In the newly designed beer experience, visitors can learn about the different raw materials and brewing processes of the past and present.

Schloss Weitra in turn offers pure living culture: the famous Schloss Weitra Festival as well as concerts, readings, theater performances, exhibitions and workshops for adults and children.

Experience the rooms of the castle on a guided tour or enjoy the castle on your own on a voyage of discovery from the cellar to the tower.