Burg Kreuzen, Medieval castle ruins in Bad Kreuzen, Austria.

Burg Kreuzen is a rock castle on a wooded ridge near the spa town of Bad Kreuzen in Upper Austria, second only to Schaunberg ruin in size in the region. Its five-metre-high perimeter wall is still visible at the gate, where a wooden bridge on pillars replaced a stone bridge in 2007. The courtyard retains an arcaded wing with barrel vaults, a 1523 sundial with the Meggau coat of arms, and a chapel projecting from the wall line.

Burg Kreuzen is said to have existed as a refuge castle around 900; a Pilgrim von Creutzen is documented as owner in 1125. In 1532 Helfried von Meggau united the front and rear castles, and in 1533 the fief was abolished. A fire in 1880 destroyed most surviving buildings, especially the roof trusses, leaving a ruin.

The name comes from a legend: a pilgrim is said to have brought a piece of the cross of Jesus from the Holy Land, giving the castle its name. A sundial from 1523 in the arcade wing shows the coat of arms of the Meggau family. Since 1983 the castle has housed a youth hostel and a cultural centre.

Marked hiking trails lead upward from Bad Kreuzen village to the ruins, with accessibility varying by season. Sturdy footwear is recommended, and the hike is best done during daylight hours in warmer months.

The draw well in the courtyard was once 42 metres deep. The square residential tower, originally 13th-century, was rebuilt in 1974; its walls are 2.5 metres thick and it now serves as a viewing tower. Foundations of two round towers can be seen to the north and northeast.