Schallaburg Castle is situated near Melk Abbey in Lower Austria. Positioned among hills in the Danube valley, Schallaburg castle combines imposing medieval ruins with a splendid Renaissance palace.
Schallaburg Castle History
The high-medieval sections dating from the 11th and 12th centuries are dominated by a three-story tower house and surrounded by crenelated walls; remains of the Romanesque crypt are preserved under the present chapel. The Losenstein family inherited the castle in 1431. Most of the original fabric was removed when Hans Wilhelm von Losenstein, Lord of nearby Loosdorf and a member of the old Protestant gentry, decided to make his domain an important center for the Protestant nobility. Continuing work begun by his father, he had the castle extensively rebuilt and enlarged from 1572 to 1600.
At the heart of the Renaissance structure is the great courtyard, the Terracottahof made by Jakob Bernecker. The rich terracotta figurative decoration includes herms, caryatids, reliefs, masks, and heraldic emblems (many replaced in the 19th century) and presents allegories of the main ethical and spiritual ideals of the period: the Seven Liberal Arts, eight Virtues, and the Nine Muses. Aside from the main entrance a vast tiltyard was laid out, and outer fortifications were constructed. In 1614 Schallaburg castle passed to the Stubenberg family, also Protestants, but never again attained comparable importance.
Schallaburg Castle Opening Hours
The Schallaburg Castle was devastated in 1945, but it was restored in 1968–1974 and adapted as a museum for annual art exhibitions.
Schallaburg Castle Location
Schallaburg Castle is located near Melk Abbey, Austria.
Adress: 3382 Schallaburg, Austria.