Burg Seebenstein, Medieval castle in Seebenstein, Austria

Burg Seebenstein is a medieval castle in the Lower Austrian town of Seebenstein, made up of two clearly separate parts: a round keep and a higher castle complex built at a later stage. The rooms inside are now used as museum spaces and display several collections open to visitors.

The castle was founded around 1045 by Gottfried von Wels-Lambach and passed to the Formbach family around 1049. After the Formbachs died out in the 12th century it went to the Wildensteiners, and in 1170 a Kdolz von Seebenstein is first mentioned. The round keep and ruined palas date from the 13th/14th century, while the Hochschloss was built by the Königsbergers from 1432 and withstood a Turkish siege in 1683.

The castle houses a collection of artworks, among them a sculpture of the Virgin Mary attributed to the late medieval sculptor Veit Stoss. These works are displayed across the rooms of the upper castle section and give a sense of the religious artistic tradition of the region.

The castle sits on a hill above the town and can be reached on foot, though the walk up takes a little time. Sturdy shoes are a good idea, as the site covers several levels connected by stairs and uneven ground.

The keep has a round footprint, which was unusual for the 13th century when most towers were built square. A round tower had no blind corners, making it harder for attackers to hide against the walls unseen.