Lockenhaus Castle, Medieval fortress in Lockenhaus, Austria

Lockenhaus Castle is a hilltop fortress of pale grey and white stone with dark grey, steeply pitched roofs, built from connected wings of varying heights. A curved, multi-sided wing with small rectangular windows stands on the left; a tall, flat-topped tower rises in the centre, with a taller square tower with a pyramidal roof behind it. To the right, two round turrets flank a long, straight wing with rows of windows. The complex sits on a slope above dense green trees.

The castle was founded around 1200 and initially served as a defensive stronghold against invaders from the east. It subsequently came under the control of multiple noble families including the Nádasdy and Esterházy.

Since 1981 the castle and the parish church have hosted the Lockenhaus Chamber Music Festival every July, founded by violinist Gidon Kremer, who led it until 2011 and passed direction to cellist Nicolas Altstaedt. The Gothic Knights' Hall, with cross-ribbed vaulting, was originally used for mass eating and drinking.

Guided tours allow visitors to walk through the chambers and explore the restored chapel along with underground passages. The best time to visit is outside winter months when most areas are fully accessible.

The castle houses a Greifvogelstation with birds of prey, and around 1,200 bats give birth here each year. The trust arranges an audio-visual presentation and night-vision devices explaining the bats' reproduction, hunting behaviour and annual cycle.