Ruine Freyenstein
Ruins
Description
In the Strudengau region, the castle ruins of Freyenstein (also known as Freienstein) are enthroned high above the municipality of Freienstein - and around 4 kilometers away from the town of Neustadtl an der Donau. The fabulously dilapidated and wildly overgrown ruins are a listed building.
The privately owned castle ruins can be visited at any time. Its wooded location on a narrow rocky ridge can be reached via an easily accessible hiking trail from the valley.
The eventful history of the Freyenstein castle ruins
The castle was built around the year 1200 - supposedly on an old Celtic cult site. Its location was ideal for controlling shipping traffic on the Danube. The castle was owned by the sovereign and was often pawned and sold over the centuries. After passing to the Starhemberg family in 1657, it was soon abandoned. Today it belongs to the Hatschek family of entrepreneurs - and is a popular excursion destination.
