Burg Krämpelstein, Medieval castle in Esternberg, Austria

Burg Krämpelstein is a rock castle on a rocky spur high above the right bank of the Danube in the Pyrawang district of Esternberg. It consists of a residential tower measuring 9.5 by 11 metres with an attached palas of 15 by 15 metres, built in the 14th century. The palas was added later than the tower, as shown by the entrance on the first floor leading into the tower. A small castle chapel sits above the entrance, and a privy oriel is on the right side of the palas.

The castle was first documented in 1337 and initially served as a toll station and retreat for the bishops of Passau. The structure later became part of Austria when the region transferred to Austrian control in 1782.

The castle is also called Schneiderburg or Schneiderschlössl, names that appear alongside Krempelstein and Krämpelstein in the sources. From 1938 to 1942 the tenant Eduard Munninger rebuilt it and ran a guesthouse and artists' hostel there, and until 1965 it served as a meeting place for his pansophic organisation AORRAC.

The castle is privately owned and access is restricted, so visitors should observe the signs posted at the site. It is best to view the structure and its riverside location from outside while respecting the property limitations.

Roman coins dated between 284 and 306 AD were discovered during excavations in 1845, suggesting that a Roman watchtower once occupied this location before the current castle was built. These archaeological finds reveal how the site has been fortified and inhabited across different periods of history.