Arbesbach Castle, Castle ruin in Arbesbach, Austria

Arbesbach Castle, called the Stockzahn des Waldviertels, is the ruin of a hilltop and rock castle on a granite outcrop at about 900 metres on the western edge of the Waldviertel highlands. Its former pentagonal bergfried was fitted in 1884 with an 18-metre observation platform, the Alexanderwarte, which remains the visible structure on the rock.

The castle was built at the end of the 12th century by Hadmar II of Kuenring as a supporting fortification for Rappottenstein Castle. In 1480, Bohemian troops destroyed the structure during military conflicts in the region.

The ruin is nicknamed the 'Stockzahn des Waldviertels' (Molar of the Waldviertel) because the former keep rises from a granite rock like a tooth. The name is still used locally when referring to the castle.

The ruin can be explored independently on weekdays; at weekends, members of the Arbesbacher Verschönerungsverein are on hand to answer questions about the ruin and the Waldviertel. The Alexanderwarte on the former bergfried stands at 903 m above sea level and is reached on foot; sturdy shoes are advisable on the granite terrain.

The viewing platform, called Alexanderwarte, was built in 1884 by the Austrian Tourist Club on the remains of the former pentagonal keep. It stands at 903 m above sea level, and on weekends members of the Arbesbach beautification association are on hand to answer questions about the ruin and the Waldviertel.