Ruine Oberwallsee, Medieval castle ruins in Feldkirchen an der Donau, Austria
Ruine Oberwallsee is a castle structure in the Danube region with well-preserved walls and window openings across multiple levels. The layout shows remains of a three-story palace structure with tall window openings and traces of seated alcoves carved into the stone walls.
The castle was founded in 1364 under Eberhard V. von Walsee and gained blood court privileges from Duke Albrecht V in 1415. These privileges demonstrated its importance as a regional power center during the late medieval period.
The castle shows unusual architecture without a central tower, instead offering rooms built for comfortable living. Visitors can see today how omitting a main tower allowed for more windows and spacious living areas.
The lower castle section was restored between 1984 and 1995 and is now accessible to visitors. The site sits on a hill above the Danube, so climbing to the ruins can be demanding.
The castle features a rare preserved weight-operated defensive mechanism at its entrance called the Wippkeller. This system was an early form of gate defense powered by weights.
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